Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna 2026 Highlights The Middle East's Rise As A Global Beauty Power Centre

(MENAFN- Mid-East Info) From high-growth market to decision-making force shaping the future of the beauty industry

From 26-29 March 2026, Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna returns for its 57th edition, bringing the global beauty industry together at a moment of accelerated transformation. As the world’s leading trade fair for cosmetics, beauty technology and wellness, the upcoming edition places a strong focus on the Middle East, as the region continues its evolution from a destination market into an increasingly influential centre of decision-making, innovation and investment.

That momentum builds on well-documented regional growth trends and the Middle East’s rising profile within the global beauty economy. Across the GCC, increasing investment in premium beauty, fragrance, professional services and advanced manufacturing continues to reinforce the region’s position as one of the industry’s most strategically important markets, both in terms of consumption and influence.

This attractiveness is reflected on the exhibition floor, with multiple international brands and manufacturers across skincare, haircare, packaging and private label citing the Middle East, including the UAE and Saudi Arabia, as priority expansion and distribution markets for 2026 and beyond. Further underscoring this momentum, Saudi Arabia will be represented through a curated selection of high-end Saudi beauty and fragrance brands within Pavilion 14, Cosmoprime, spotlighting the country’s growing creative and commercial presence on the global beauty stage, including names such as ASSAF (fragrance and lifestyle), Moonglaze (make-up), and WITHIN 51/49 (high-end perfumery and wellness).

The Middle East is increasingly shaping how beauty is created, financed and experienced worldwide. The region is no longer defined solely by consumption, but by its growing role in setting strategy, accelerating innovation and influencing what ultimately reaches international shelves, professional environments and consumer routines. Global industry analysis shows that impacts and value creation are increasingly concentrated across ingredients, packaging and product end-of-life, positioning markets such as the GCC, with strong retail ecosystems, premium positioning and appetite for innovation, as key testbeds for next-generation formulations, circular packaging and advanced manufacturing solutions.

** CosmoTalks 2026: Beauty’s New Power Brokers**

Reflecting this evolution, Cosmoprof’s 2026 thought-leadership programme will feature a dedicated CosmoTalks panel focused on the Gulf’s expanding influence. On 28 March at 12:00 PM, the exhibition will host a session titled: Beauty’s New Power Brokers: The Middle East! Beyond the Shelf, Beyond the Market

The panel will explore how beauty power is exercised long before products ever reach shelves, treatment rooms or consumers’ hands, examining who determines what is created, what is funded, what scales, and what never reaches the market. As influence decentralises beyond traditional global headquarters, the Middle East is increasingly becoming a place where beauty authority, authorship and cultural direction are formed, with regional decisions shaping global outcomes and the future of beauty culture.

Speakers include Rosemin Opgenhaffen, Founder, RR&Co Bespoke Luxury Management and Founder, Rosemin Beauty; Kawthar Makahlah, Founder & CEO of BCI Group of Companies; Maysoon Younis, Managing Director of MANE; and Rabih Madi, COO of Madi International.

** A Global Platform for a Defining Region**

Alongside its conference programme, Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna 2026 will once again present its three core exhibition platforms: Cosmopack, Cosmo Perfumery & Cosmetics, and Cosmo Hair, Nail & Beauty Salon. These platforms reflect the full beauty supply chain, from ingredients and packaging to finished products, professional services, and emerging consumer trends. With over 250,000 visitors expected and more than 3,000 exhibitors from over 64 countries, the 2026 edition is reported to be completely sold out, featuring an increasingly balanced international presence between European and non-European markets.

The previous edition closed with 3,128 exhibitors from 65 countries and 255,251 professionals from 150 countries, reinforcing Cosmoprof’s position as one of the world’s most international industry meeting points.

Building on this foundation, the 2026 edition is set to deepen engagement with Middle Eastern brands, distributors, manufacturers and investors, as international companies increasingly look to the Gulf not only as a growth market, but as a strategic partner shaping the future trajectory of global beauty.

As the exhibition approaches its 60th anniversary in 2027, Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna 2026 reinforces its role as a gateway between established global players and one of the most dynamic, ambitious and influential beauty regions in the world.

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