Marketing in the Gulf states

Western companies are devising new marketing strategies or reinforcing existing marketing operations to tap the growing Middle Eastern market. An increase in consumer product demand following the Persian Gulf War of 1991 resulted in the increased marketing potential of the Arab States. The attractiveness of the Gulf market is attributed to rapid population growth, a strong consumer purchasing power, and the region's high level of import trading. The design and implementation of an effective marketing strategy requires knowledge of prevailing demographic factors, socio-cultural traits, political and legislative factors, consumer behavior, and the current economic state of the external marketing environment of the Persian Gulf region. Product adoption strategies, pricing, distribution of goods, public relations and promotional schemes should be based on this external environment.