Beautyworld Dubai celebrates 30 years with strong barber presence and billion-dollar business

Held between October 6 and 8 at the Dubai World Trade Centre in the United Arab Emirates, Beautyworld Dubai 2026 marked its thirtieth edition with impressive numbers that directly interest the professional barber. The event welcomed 62,130 visitors and 1,300 exhibitors from 56 countries, generating US$1.19 billion in reported business. For those working in the sector, the fair confirmed its transformation from a simple commercial point to a strategic platform that defines trends and opens new career and investment opportunities.

The international relevance of the meeting was clear in the composition of the audience, with 42% of visitors coming from outside the United Arab Emirates. Countries such as Brazil, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Oman had strong representation. In addition, 239 companies participated for the first time, and the Philippines debuted with a national pavilion, joining delegations from countries like France, South Korea, Brazil, and Italy.

One of the highlights for the specialized audience was the presence of renowned professionals on the beautyLIVE and The Makeup Studio stages. Among the names that shared their expertise are Mounir, Dimitris Giannetos, Josh Lamonaca, Mary Phillips, Patrick Ta, and Maggie Seeman. The participation of Spanish barbers was particularly notable: Jorge X, Rafael Bueno, and Carlos Valiente, presented as World Hair Champions from Spain, performed a scenic show on the final day.

Jorge X commented on the experience in Dubai, stating that it is a great honor to return to the venue. He highlighted the pride of taking Spanish talents to the world, citing the quality of the colleagues with whom he shared the stage. This visibility reinforces the importance of cultural and technical exchange between different schools of barbering globally.

In addition to hair demonstrations, the edition expanded its scope with a pavilion dedicated exclusively to fragrances, receiving major international companies and emerging brands from the region. The Next in Beauty conference program also brought analyses on the Gulf Cooperation Council market and the future of luxury retail, offering valuable insights for business owners in the sector.

To celebrate 30 years, the fair awarded professional excellence in 17 categories. Huda Kattan, founder of Huda Beauty, received the Icon of the Year award. The event director, Ravi Ramchandani, emphasized that the industry now comes to Dubai to discover and invest, not just to sell, signaling a shift in the center of gravity of global beauty.

With the success of this edition, the organization announced that in 2027 the event will move to the Dubai Exhibition Centre, in Expo City Dubai. The new headquarters will offer greater capacity to accommodate the continuous growth of international participation and further consolidate the role of the Middle East as a generator of innovation and business for beauty professionals.