The beauty and cosmetics industry in the Kingdom is facing difficulties due to the increase in government fees and complicated procedures to obtain licenses.

Women in the Kingdom are both beauty conscious and affluent, according to a study by Euromonitor which publishes reports on industries, consumers and demographics in Saudi Arabia.

With a huge spending on cosmetics, women account for a major chunk of the customers in the region, leading many international companies to set up shop in the Kingdom, according to data released by Euromonitor.

The cosmetics industry is a promising sector for investors but high fees and the difficulties in obtaining licenses are major hurdles that discourage largescale investment.

Madawi Hassoun of the beauty centers committee at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) said beauty centers pay license and work permit fees to 14 government agencies which is a major obstacle for investors.

Hassoun, who is head of a special committee of female investors in this sector formed by the JCCI and which runs more than 5,000 beauty centers in Jeddah, said: “I will work with other members at the chamber to resolve the obstacles and find solutions in coordination with the Ministry of Labor to help female investors in this sector. Several female investors face great challenges in employing Saudi women to accept work in this sector, in addition to difficult conditions governing the recruitment of foreign workers.”

The 19-member committee includes Maha Sulaiman, Fawzia Abdul Wahab, Jowhara Al-Ghamdi, Bassmah Mahawi, Bushra Akboush, Lamia Muttabagani, Hend Baghfar, Jumana Al-Maghrabi, Amera Al-Ghamdi, Dina Zahrani, Hessa Al-Ouwfi, Samia Linjawi and Randa Al-Fadal.

The committee recently decided to invite Adnan Mandoura, general secretary of the JCCI, for a meeting to discuss a number of challenges and the committee’s goals in the upcoming period while the committee recommended a cooperation with Mohammed bin Rashid Center for Entrepreneurship in Dubai to send a female delegation of the committee to review some programs and initiatives.

The beauty and cosmetic industry in the Kingdom is poised for success given that the Saudi women comprise the highest percentage of population in the GCC countries with a growth rate of 1.9 percent.

With over 50,000 registered providers, the Kingdom’s beauty industry is booming, driven by high disposable income, a young population, a high presence of international brands and an ever-expanding retail landscape.