Saudi Arabia tops wireless handsets market in MEA: report

Saudi Arabia is the biggest market for wireless headsets in the Middle East & Africa, which is projected to reach $894 million by 2023, consultancy firm TechSci Research said in a recent report.

“Countries with rapidly growing mobile device industries such as Saudi Arabia, UAE and South Africa are forecast to drive the wireless headsets market in Middle East & Africa over the course of next five years," said Karan Chechi, research director, TechSci Research.

"Moreover, the trend of online streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime and Hulu is a key factor likely to drive the growth of the region’s wireless headsets market, as consumers like to enjoy these services on their personal devices, encouraging them to buy wireless headsets," he added.

According to the World Bank, internet penetration grew from 74.88 per cent in 2016 to 80.07 per cent in 2017 in Saudi Arabia, indicating strong demand for online services.

The number of smartphone users is growing at a rapid pace in the region, which is driving wireless headsets sales in Middle Eastern countries, the report added.