Italy unveils first national pavilion at Dubai Derma as UAE skincare imports hit €165.4m
Growing demand fuels opportunities for Italian healthcare and beauty suppliers
DUBAI – The Italian Trade Agency (ITA) is making its debut with Italy’s first national pavilion at Dubai Derma 2026, as Italian dermatology and skincare-related exports to the UAE reached a record €165.4 million (Dh660 million approx) in 2025.
Italy is participating as the official Guest of Honour at the 25th edition of the event, which runs from September 8 to 10 at Dubai World Trade Centre. The pavilion brings together Italian companies specialising in regenerative biotechnology, electro-medical equipment, pharmaceutical dermatology and professional clinical skincare under a unified national presence.
The initiative expands on previous participation by individual Italian companies and gives regional dermatologists, clinical buyers, aesthetic centres and medical distributors direct access to a wider Italian supply chain. Products and technologies on display include advanced biotechnology solutions, precision electro-medical devices, pharmaceutical topical treatments and specialised formulations designed for professional and therapeutic settings.
Lorenzo Fanara, Ambassador of Italy to the UAE, said the UAE was a key market for dermatology and aesthetic medicine, citing strong demand for innovative and high-quality solutions. He said Dubai Derma provides an important platform for expanding trade opportunities between Italy and the UAE while strengthening scientific and business ties between the two countries.
Export growth
According to Trade Data Monitor, Italian exports to the UAE across dermatology and skincare-related product categories increased 7.4 percent in 2025, rising from €154 million in 2024 to €165.4 million.
Specialised clinical skincare accounted for €61.4 million, approximately Dh245 million, of those exports. The category recorded an 11.3 percent increase from €55.2 million a year earlier, highlighting rising demand for professional skincare products in the UAE market.
On the consumer side, Euromonitor International data shows spending on specialised dermocosmetics in the UAE reached Dh440.4 million, equivalent to €110.4 million, in 2025. The wider UAE retail skincare market is projected to grow at an annual compound growth rate of approximately 7 percent through 2030.
The country’s dermatology devices market is also forecast to expand, reaching US$205.4 million by 2030. It is projected to grow at a CAGR of 8.8 percent from 2025 to 2030, reflecting continued demand for advanced technologies used in dermatological treatment and diagnosis.
Italian expertise
Valerio Soldani, Trade Commissioner at the Italian Trade Agency, said the inaugural pavilion reflects the breadth of Italy’s medical manufacturing capabilities.
He highlighted Italian expertise spanning regenerative biotechnology, precision electro-medical devices and biopharmaceutical formulations, alongside European safety and compliance standards. The pavilion also features capabilities in non-surgical aesthetic equipment, medical diagnostics, regenerative technologies and clinical-grade skincare.
Italy’s wider cosmetics sector provides a substantial industrial base for these offerings. The country’s cosmetics industry generated €16.5 billion in turnover in 2024, representing a 9.1 percent year-on-year increase, while exports reached approximately €7.9 billion.
Italian contract manufacturers also account for around 60 percent of global production of specialised cosmetics and advanced formulations, according to the information released for the event.
Regional ambitions
Through its participation at Dubai Derma, the Italian Trade Agency aims to build long-term commercial relationships between Italian companies and regional healthcare networks. It is also seeking to facilitate distribution partnerships and expand opportunities for Italian medical technology, clinical skincare and dermatology businesses across Middle Eastern markets.
The pavilion positions Italian suppliers across multiple segments of the sector, from therapeutic formulations and medical devices to aesthetic technologies and regenerative solutions, while placing their offerings directly in front of buyers and healthcare professionals attending one of the region’s major dermatology events.