ع
Himalaya Wellness Group has set its sights on sustainable double-digit growth for its personal care business across the UAE and wider GCC region, the company said in a press release distributed via Zawya. The herbal healthcare specialist established a 55,000-square-foot Global Research Centre in Dubai Science Park as part of an integrated global R&D organisation that includes a major hub in India. The facility houses more than 50 scientists and researchers from 12 nationalities, an investment that aligns with the We the UAE 2031 vision and Dubai’s goal of becoming a global innovation hub, according to the announcement.
Kunal Sahgal, chief growth officer at Himalaya Wellness Group, stated in the release that Dubai’s dynamic business environment makes it the ideal launchpad for the company’s continued global outreach and its mission to bring wellness into every home. He noted that the centre enables direct interaction with regional consumers to understand their specific concerns and to develop tailored products within the broader R&D network. The company expects innovations developed through this setup to drive an increasing share of its consumer products business across the Middle East, Africa and Turkey.
The Dubai centre incorporates advanced technologies such as an AI-powered Consumer Experience Centre that captures real-time feedback through video analytics, the press release detailed. Researchers apply Raman spectroscopy for in vivo monitoring of how ingredients penetrate the skin together with evaluation technologies that test performance under real-world conditions across varied skin types, tones and ethnic backgrounds suited to the local climate. The company said it is focusing on regional issues such as acne that affects over 65 percent of the local demographic, a segment where its Purifying Neem Face Wash has secured the number one market position in the GCC.
Jean Francois Porracchia, chief R&D officer who leads Himalaya’s integrated global R&D organisation, explained in the statement that the core philosophy centres on researching trusted herbal ingredients and combining them with modern scientific actives. He pointed to the recent launch of the Purifying Neem Serum, formulated with five parts of neem along with natural salicylic acid and CICA, which clinical tests showed delivers results on pimples and marks. The group applies stringent authentication methods, including DNA barcodes developed for over 50 herbs, to verify identity at the molecular level and guarantee safety and consistency.
A Mordor Intelligence assessment of the Middle East and Africa beauty and personal care products market estimated its size at $32.77 billion in 2026 while projecting expansion at a 5.34 percent compound annual growth rate through 2031. Natural and organic ranges within that sector are forecast to grow even faster at 7.42 percent annually over the same period as consumer demand for clean formulations rises. Himalaya’s emphasis on locally relevant herbal innovations positions the company to capitalise on this trajectory while building on its longstanding presence in the region.
Himalaya collaborates with manufacturing partners across multiple emirates to produce personal care items that feed into an extensive export network, the announcement noted. Founded in 1930, the group maintains operations in more than 120 countries supported by five global hubs, over 90 manufacturing facilities and a workforce exceeding 10,000 employees. These advancements were spotlighted during a recent showcase event at the Dubai centre attended by creators and dermatologists that underlined the brand mission of wellness in every home and happiness in every heart.
