The latest beauty and body care products from around the world will be unveiled at the three-day Gulf Beauty 2001 exhibition which begins at Dubai World Trade Centre today.

The exhibition, which showcases perfumes, cosmetics and body care products, will fill the centre's three halls where 300 exhibitors from 24 countries will offer the products of 450 manufacturers.

Eight countries - Germany, France, the UK, the U.S., Italy, Thailand, Korea and Taiwan - are taking part in national pavilions. The exhibition, the organisers said, breaks all records for its size and the number of exhibitors.

Justin Boutros, Managing Director of organisers Channels Exhibitions, said beauty products have become a vital industry.

"Beauty products are no longer a luxury purchase but an essential part of modern lifestyles. For example, we see the increased use of aesthetic and medical treatments for skin and body conditions. Around the world techniques are developing to promote health and well-being, and we see this reflected in the Gulf Beauty show.

"The Middle East region and the GCC in particular form a dynamic market for perfumes, cosmetics and personal care products. The GCC countries imported $1.6 billion of these products last year, including ingredients and related supplies. This is due to the massive demand among consumers here and steady population growth.

"The market is also boosted by the multi-cultural make-up of the population and its demand for a wide variety of products and tastes."

Boutros said the UAE is a regional trade hub for these products, importing about $600 million worth of goods."

Most Western perfume manufacturers reported solid growth in their exports to the GCC.

Harve Rebollo of the French Perfumes Federation said, "Our industry witnessed six per cent growth in exports to the Middle East in 2000. The UAE ranks 12th among the 250 regional territories where our products are being exported."

This year 21 companies from the U.S. initially booked space, but due to the terrorist attacks some companies are unable to come. Boutros said, "As we all know, the exhibition is being held in unusual global circumstances, with people around the world looking towards our region with anxiety.

Despite this, I am pleased to inform you that confidence among our international exhibitors has remained very high, due to largely to the economic and social stability of the UAE.
"Business activity in the Gulf's beauty industry remains buoyant and the exhibition, once again, should be a great success."

The exhibition is open to traders from 9.30am to 1pm and 5 to 9pm. Boutros said Gulf Beauty will have a retail section called Beauty Shopper 2002.