Cosmoprof continues to visit the world's most interesting and dynamic beauty markets. Over the final week of October, the roadshow promoting the event stopped in Doha, Qatar, to meet with local companies, distributors and buyers and promote the coming edition of Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna.

Among those present at the event were Carlotta Colli, Deputy Head of Mission of the Italian Embassy in Qatar, Giosafat Riganò, Italian Trade Commissioner to Doha, Ashraf Abuissa, Chairman of Abu Issa Holding, and Zhan Temerkhanov, Business Partner of Aldo Coppola Qatar. The speeches analysed drivers and challenges for the local market, focusing on trends and on the distribution channels that perform best in Qatar.

Meanwhile, Enrico Zannini, General Director for BolognaFiere Cosmoprof, and Mattia Miglio, International Marketing Manager for BolognaFiere Cosmoprof, offered participants a look at changes for the coming edition of Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna, an edition that will place special emphasis on innovation and will lead us into the future of the beauty sector.

Qatar is a particularly active market thanks to political and social features that make it a key country for companies in the sector. The number of women entering the workforce is on the rise, which has raised the internal demand for cosmetics. Meanwhile, the number of tourists who choose Doha for their holidays is also increasing, thereby elevating the demand for cosmetics and beauty products that offer different features. 

Let's look at trends. Demand is on the rise mainly for products that are halal or even just vegan, organic and natural. All products must, however, offer elevated performance to combat the effects of the sun and smog, environmental features that are very marked in the area.

The request for colours is quite broad: consumers are looking for multicoloured products that meet the needs of various ethnicities. In addition, rising per capita income has brought about an increasing demand for products that are highly specialised for specific issues such as aging and imperfections of the skin.