JEDDAH: Spending of Saudi men and women on cosmetics and perfumes is poised to rise by 17 percent to hit SR35 billion during the current year (2015) compared to SR30 billion in 2014, local media said quoting experts.

A Saudi woman reportedly spends money exceeding SR12,000 per year on cosmetic and beauty items, Al-Jazira daily said.

Meanwhile, participants at a cosmetics and dermatology event in Jeddah said that the Saudi market is the biggest perfume and cosmetic market in the region.

Experts said the biggest portion of beauty items in the Kingdom, in particular and the region in general is spent on skin care for both sexes due to exposure to high sun heat throughout most part of the year.

Earlier, Sulaiman Wafaei, head of production unit at one of cosmetic companies in the Kingdom, said the Saudi market represents a major importance to cosmetic producers in the world where the rate of sales is growing by 20 percent annually. The growth rate has demonstrated that the Saudi market is still capable of absorbing more beauty and perfume shops, he said.