Importing into the Middle East

As a region, the Middle East displays some often hard-to-define polarities in wealth and development. Unfortunately, the result is a high degree of uncertainty for potential investors in the area.

Language and cultural barriers also often pose challenges for westerners looking to import into the Middle East. However, Tech hot-spots in areas such as Israel are often too enticing an opportunity for foreign investors to pass up, despite the risk and complexity. There are a number of restrictions in this region, notably second-hand goods. However, there are also frequent restrictions on goods originating from other countries. Roughly 60% of the population in the Middle East is under 25 years old. As a result, there is an expected boom, particularly in the Tech industry, between 2018 and 2040 as this generation comes of age. The implications for economic and technological development are beginning to emerge. Cloud traffic, for example, is growing faster here than anywhere else in the world at 41% year over year.

Due to its growth in recent years, the Middle East is undergoing tremendous changes and innovations. As such, the region offers a wealth of opportunity and profitability, especially for tech giants and ambitious entrepreneurs looking to make their mark in some of the relatively untapped markets.

Do you have a specific Middle Eastern destination in mind? Learn more about the complexities of importing into Middle Eastern countries like The United Arab Emirates.