DUBAI: Shakeel Group, one of the largest stationery suppliers in the UAE, on Monday announced a series of discounts to students and buyers as the seasonal back-to-school sales jump, which will accelerate the sale of stationery and office supplies market to US$6.49 billion (Dh23.82 billion) this year – up from the estimated sale of US$6.26 billion (Dh22.97 billion) in 2022.
The UAE has 639 public and 580 private schools with a total enrolment of 287,725 students in public schools and 793,295 students in private schools. The total number of students in the GCC is projected to reach 14.2 million by 2027, an addition of 1.1 million from the current level, the latest industry report said.
K-12 enrolments in the region are expected to grow at a CAGR of 1.5 percent to reach 11.7 million by 2027, the report by Alpen Capital said.
The UAE and Saudi Arabia represent 46.9 percent of the US$6.49 billion stationery and office supplies market in the Middle East. The stationery and office supplies market in the UAE is 27.2 percent of the total Middle East market, or US$1.77 billion (Dh6.48 billion).
With more than 3 million people landing at the Dubai International Airport this fortnight, the UAE is getting ready for another hectic business season starting next week. The growing school-age population, high per capita income, sizeable budgetary allocations and favourable government initiatives are expected to drive future growth of the sector.
Shakeel Group, which stocks more than 6,000 types of stationery and office products under one roof including 5,000 products under its own Sadaf brand, has also beefed up its stocks for the upcoming busy business season that starts September 4 when hundreds of thousands of business visitors will come to the UAE for a number of large-scale exhibitions and conferences including GITEX, World Investment Forum, ADIPEC, Dubai Airshow, COP28 and WETEX, among many others – that will require a large quantity of supplies.
“As we welcome hundreds of thousands of students back to schools, colleges and universities, we are announcing a series of discounts on our products from thousands of categories that meets the demand for all the stationery needs of not only students, but for businesses and government offices,” Abu Talha Alam, Managing Director of Shakeel Group, said.
“Students and parents can visit our showroom in Al Wahda Street in Sharjah, or order products online for pick up or delivery. Of late we have expanded our inventory to offer a wider choice to our valued customers who want nothing but the best.”
Most supermarkets and hypermarkets in the UAE are currently running a series of back-to-school promotions, rolling out bundle offers, that also include products supplied by Shakeel Group that has outlets in Bahrain as well as other parts of the GCC region. The company has a large export office in Dubai to re-export products all over the world.
“Domestic market forms one part of our business. Our products are exported and re-exported to a number of countries around the world,” Abu Talha Alam said.
Shakeel Group, a leading stationery brand in the UAE, represents one of the largest stationery brands in the region. The humble journey of Shakeel Trading Co WLL (STC) started in Bahrain in 1986. The early founding years were testing, but the unyielding resolve in serving customers helped the company emerge successfully.
The UAE chapter of Shakeel Group started in 2014 with the opening of a stationery store at Al Wahda Sharjah. Through this store, the company meets both wholesale and retail requirements of the citizens and foreigners residing in the UAE. The store – with its well-managed sales and logistical capacity of serving customers across the UAE – helped the group grow into one of the most prominent suppliers not only in the country but around the region.
In addition to stationery and office supplies, Shakeel Group also has a large collection of household items under its product portfolio.
