Outdoor Furniture Market - MTIB

Outdoor Furniture Market
in the Middle East

Background of the Middle East
• Weather –high temperature and humidity variation throughout the year
• Extreme weather can be as high as 52degrees –0degrees
• Countries with big spending power, i.e., UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and Saudi
Arabia, etc.
• Appreciation towards Malaysian Meranti species
• Mainly import outdoor furniture from China, Malaysia and Indonesia
• European outdoor furniture is mainly procured from Spain, Italy and
Germany
• Routine family gatherings and meeting friends/acquaintances at outdoor
café s/public parks

Outdoor Furniture Product Description
• Living and Dining sets:
– Synthetic sofa set comprising of 3+1+1 including the central table set
together with side tables with glass top.
– Sofa sets with 2+2 seating arrangement and a wide central table to be
placed in gardens and open places in the portico/ loft outside the house.
– Elongated sofa seating 3+3 in L‐shaped to be placed in the corner with big
centre table and side tables with cross design and support cushions to give
comfort.
– Individual sofa separated by side tables 4 individual and 2 double sofa sets
made of synthetic rattan, including decoration side lamps and centre table

Outdoor Furniture Product Description
• Balcony sets:
– Individual sofa chairs 2+1 twin sofa and
centre table with support cushions and side
lamps.
– Sofa set of 3+1+1 with central table for
verandah and portico usage.
– Classic chairs with support cushions and
square table ideal for coffee serving to guests
in the garden. The intricate classic design was
well designed in synthetic rattan.
• Sunbeds and Loungers:
– Lounge beds made of synthetic rattan to be
placed beside pools and garden for sun
bathing.
– Lounge beds with raised back support with
cushions to be used for party occasions at
house, hotels.
– Round shaped lounge with laid back rest
made of rattan in dark colors to add value as
support outdoor furniture.

Outdoor Furniture Product Description
• Chairs:
– Arm chair in round shape with intricate design to give
support to the side rests.
– Sofa with cushion to support the seat, well designed
elongated upright sofa which comes in four individual sofa
sets.
– Sofa set with laid back rest made of rattan. The chairs
support the elongated sofas.
• Tables:
– Cross dining table consist of a round table with three
support cross stand made of synthetic rattan. It is offered
in two colors.
– Round side table with glass table top with wooden support
legs. Made of synthetic rattan to be used besides sofas or
easy chairs.
– Elongated support table with slanting support. Synthetic
rattan table with enriched design and light weight support
table.
• Swings:
– Swing made of rattan with support steel bar to raise it of
the ground for comfort and easy placement at pool side.
– Oval shaped swing made of synthetic rattan with steel
round bar support. Shaped in cocoon like structure to
shade from direct sun and well designed swing.

R M (m illion)
Malaysia's Select Export Market to West Asia for
Furniture and Other Timber Products in 2011
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
Source: MTIB
UAE KSA Kuwait Qatar Lebanon
Total
Furniture

Lifestyle
• Outdoor furniture is not replaced as often as indoor (living, dining
and bedroom) furniture.
• The locals are buying outdoor furniture, but in small quantities for
their villas. However, the trend is yet to catch with the local
population of the UAE
Locals
• Prefer wooden
furniture, for big
family gatherings
• Prefers sturdy
outdoor furniture
• GCC nationals are
big purchasers of
premium items
Asian
• Prefer portable and
light‐weight furniture
• One time buyer
Western
• Major buyer of
outdoor furniture
• Tends to make new
purchase whenever
relocated

Outdoor Furniture Applications
• Hotel and resorts
• Villas
• Public parks
• Restaurants and cafes

Outdoor Furniture Applications
• Lounge bed in a famous
hotel in Abu Dhabi, UAE
• Expatriate population in the
Middle East appreciate outdoor
furniture in their gardens and
pool side
• Teak wood frame for durability
and golden brown color
• It is claimed that treated
Indonesian Teak can withstand
heat and humid weather as it
releases natural oil which
protects it from termites and
high temperatures

Outdoor Furniture Applications
• A metal framed pergola with cloth
top and wooden strips as seats
• Few Meranti pergolas were seen in
the Middle East; in public parks,
common areas, and places of
recreation.

Outdoor Furniture Applications
• Malaysian made outdoor
tables, bench, and chair
• Metal framed with
wooden finish for
aesthetics
• As metal tends to heat up
during summer, metal
furniture are not in
demand during the hot
summer climate

Outdoor Furniture Applications
• Natural rattan cannot withstand
extreme hot climate of Gulf
countries
• In turn, many furniture
showrooms display imported
Indonesian synthetic rattan/ PE
rattan furniture
• Synthetic rattan furniture is
available in various shapes,
colors and is regarded as
durable and with lower
maintenance compared to
natural rattan

Outdoor Furniture Applications
• Malaysian made outdoor
Meranti side table with
armrest and platform to place
magazines and other items
while enjoying the outdoors
• The Middle East requires
outdoor furniture which can
sustain through long , hot and
humid summers

Outdoor Furniture Applications
• This Malaysian made garden furniture has an octagonal table with room
to place umbrella pole in the middle
• Made from Kiln dried and chemically treated Meranti to withstand the
harsh Middle East climate
• Being light weight and foldable, this garden furniture is made for
convenience for placement and storage

• Malaysian made lounge bed
with cushioned fabric (on floor)
• Made from Kiln dried and
chemically treated Meranti
• Hotels & resorts have high
demand targeting European
and Western tourists in the
summer

• Variety of furniture designs from
China & Indonesia
• Innovation is the key for market
growth
• The Chinese manufacturers have
price advantage due to lower
production cost
Competition
• European manufacturers produce
high quality products which pose a
competitive threat to Malaysian
furniture products
• Synthetic Rattan furniture is
factory‐finished and is easy to
assemble whereas Natural Rattan
is expensive and hard to maintain

Market Prospects
• Temperature and humidity variation in the
Middle East requires wood species that are
properly kiln dried and treated
• Upcoming tourist projects i.e., in UAE, Oman,
Jordan, Lebanon, Qatar, etc. will require a big
supply of wooden outdoor furniture. For
example, outdoor furniture market in UAE, is
catered by Indonesia, Spain and Italy which
includes the dining table sets, sofas and
reclining chairs and lounge beds
• Highest sales are reported close to Eid
celebration and Christmas
• Market slows down from June to September as
residents, tourists, and expatriates have their
summer leave to escape the harsh summer

Market Prospects
• High disposable and per‐capita income in the Middle East offers
huge potential for outdoor furniture
• Many Middle East capital cities have long shorelines (i.e.
beachfront residential areas) which creates demand for outdoor
furniture
• Majority of European/Caucasian tourist prefer to frequent Middle
East tourist spots to take advantage of bright sunny days, soaring
demand during the holiday period
• Upscale marina resorts (i.e. yacht bay) consists of eateries and
expensive restaurants which demand premium outdoor furniture
• High net worth individuals buy free‐hold residential properties in
Middle East which has open/large gardens and private beach which
requires extensive use of exclusive outdoor wooden furniture

Market Prospects ‐ Products
• Metal outdoor furniture are suitable for
stationary furniture such as park bench
and tables. However, it is not feasible
during summer as it gets heated up easily
under bright sun
• Plastic outdoor furniture may be light‐
weight and portable but it will not
withstand the Middle Eastern summer
• Synthetic rattan is factory‐finished and
easy to assemble and maintain compared
to natural rattan which cracks and shred
resin under warm weather
• Meranti is most commonly used for
wooden furniture in various hotel and
resort projects

Projects using outdoor furniture
• Jumeirah Beach Road, Dubai
• Emirates Hills, Dubai
• Palm Jumeirah, Dubai
• Al Mamzar, Dubai
• Yas Marina, Abu Dhabi
• Reem Island, Abu Dhabi
• The Wave, Oman
• Bustam Palace, Oman
• Grand Hyatt, Oman
• Sharm al Sheikh, Egypt
• Aqaba, Jordan
• Byblos & Anjar, Lebanon

Thank you