Parents in the UAE spend up to Dh98,800 on various products and equipment during their child’s first year, said a new study.
According to new research commissioned by The Baby Expo and conducted by Censuswide, parents mainly spend on gear such as strollers, car seats, high-chairs, carriers; nursery furniture and décor; clothing and accessories; feeding, nursing and nutrition; maternity products and services; and bath and baby care.
Among the other items are gadgets, post-partum support, toys, education and outdoor fun; health and safety essentials such as first aid, safety gates, baby and toddler proofing accessories etc; and childcare and nurseries.
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“The UAE’s population is growing and there is an increasing demand for baby products, equipment, and services for newborns. With surveyed parents investing Dh98,880 on average during their child’s first year there is a huge opportunity for new brands to enter the market and satisfy demand,” said Ashleigh Lloyd, co-founder of The Baby Expo.
The UAE residents enjoy one of the highest per capita incomes, ranking the country among the richest nations globally. The UAE was rated among the 10 richest nations with a per capita income of nearly $87,729 last year.
However, Leena Khalil, CEO at Mumzworld.com, said the budget-conscious parents spend between Dh10,000 to Dh15,000 on their child’s first year.
She added that the most popular items parents buy during the first year of their child’s birth are their strollers, cribs, and car seats, as well as their everyday essentials such as diapers, baby clothing, feeding bottles, and skincare products.
“We also see parents purchasing educational toys and books that support early development. We know that not all motherhood journeys are the same. We offer everything to meet these uniquely diverse parenting needs. Various mums prefer different options,” she said.
According to Mumzworld CEO parents spend on a wide range of necessities, from daily baby essentials and nursery furniture to children’s clothing and toys.
“We understand that this can be a significant expense, which is why we offer parent-friendly payment options, and only trusted authentic products, both locally and from across the globe, to help reassure mothers that they have the best quality at great value,” Khalil said.
When shopping for products, over 53 per cent of parents prioritised ease of use and convenience for product choice, closely followed by educational value (49 per cent) and ease of cleaning and maintenance (47 per cent). These findings indicate products that today’s parents resonate with are educational, convenient, utility-driven and predominantly about making parenthood as simple as possible.
However, amidst these evolving preferences, nearly a quarter of parents surveyed expressed difficulties in finding equipment including clothing, accessories, technology and gadgets, health and safety essentials, bath, potty and baby care, toys, and gear such as strollers, car seats, high-chairs and carriers. As well as a quarter of parents expressed difficulties in finding maternity and postpartum products and support in the UAE. This highlights a need for expanded resources and services to cater to the diverse needs of expectant and new mothers in the region.