Emirati demand for machinery confirms interesting and growing figures, especially in the high-end segment
According to preliminary estimates for 2025, the United Arab Emirates is expected to rank 21st among the world’s importing countries of machinery for the graphics and the paper converting supply chain. By the end of 2025, imports in this market are expected to remain at peak levels (€203 million). These levels are 74% higher than those in the pre-pandemic period (2019), with an average annual growth rate in the period 2020-2025 close to +10% in euro terms.
The qualitative composition of UAE imports shows a significant predominance of imports in the higher price ranges: overall, in 2025 (according to ExportPlanning pre-estimates), imports in the high and medium-high price ranges are estimated to represent 36% of total market imports.
According to ExportPlanning forecasts, in the 2026-2029 scenario, Emirati imports are expected to grow at a moderately dynamic average annual rate in euro terms (CAGR: +2.2%), exceeding €221 million. However, it should be noted that in 2026, forecasts for the evolution of market imports are negative (-3.8% in euro terms), before returning to a positive trend (CAGR: +4.3%) in the following three years.
China leads among supplier countries, with Italy in 3rd place
China is the main supplier to the UAE market for machinery for the graphics, paper and converting industries, with an estimated share of over 38 points in 2025. Italy ranks third among supplier countries to the Emirati market, behind Germany (17.6% share), with an estimated export value last year of €13.5 million (7.5%). According to ExportPlanning forecasts, in the 2026-2029 scenario, Italian exports are expected to grow at an average annual rate (CAGR) of +3.2% in euro terms (reaching €15.3 million at the end of the period).
Composition of UAE imports by sector
In detail, for the various sectors of machinery for the graphics, paper and converting industry, in 2025 (preliminary figures) UAE imports show the highest figures for printing machinery (€91.6 million), converting machinery (€66.2 million) and paper converting machinery (€29 million), followed by machinery and materials for plate making (€8.9 million) and bookbinding machinery (€7.3 million).
In the 2026-2029 scenario, the largest contributions to the growth of UAE imports of machinery for the graphics, paper and converting industries are expected to come from – in order – the converting machinery (+€9.9 million, equal to an average annual growth of 3.5 percentage points) and printing machinery (+€6.2 million, corresponding to 2.2 percentage points per year) sectors.
Italian exports to the Emirati market by sector
Italian exports to the Emirati market are significant, particularly in the printing machinery sector (estimated at €10.1 million in the 2025 preliminary figures) and, to a lesser extent, in the converting machinery sector (€2.6 million). In the 2026-2029 scenario, Italian exports of machinery for the graphic arts, paper and converting to the Emirati market are expected to receive the most positive contributions from sales of converting machinery (+1.3 million euros, equal to an average annual growth of +10.7% in euro values), compared to decidedly less dynamic trends for sales of printing machinery (+353 thousand euros, equal to a CAGR of +0.9%).
Emirati production in the graphics, paper and converting industry
The nation’s production is estimated at around €3 billion (preliminary figures for 2025), making the country the 32nd largest producer in the world in this industry. During the period examined, Emirati production of products showed sustained growth in the period 2010-2022, with an average annual rate of +13.1% in euro terms. However, after peaking in 2022, in the three-year period 2023-2025, partly due to the downsizing of prices along the paper supply chain, Emirati production showed an interruption in its strong growth phase.
The main values in the UAE’s printing and paper supply chain are attributable to the flexible packaging segment (estimated at €974 million in 2025, ranking 33rd worldwide) and graphic and publishing products (€605 million, ranking 16th worldwide). The UAE also ranks well in the graphic and paper converting industry in the tissue paper (20th place worldwide) and graphic arts paper (24th place worldwide) segments.
A growing market
Analysis of the Emirati market for graphics and paper converting machinery shows a recent phase of growth, with peak levels of imports in the sector confirmed in 2025. The qualitative composition of imports also shows a significant relevance of imports in the higher price ranges, accounting for nearly 36 per cent of total imports. Italian sales rank third in terms of value in 2025 (estimated at €13.5 million), after China (the clear market leader) and Germany.
Domestic production, on the other hand, shows the highest values in the flexible packaging (€974 million in 2025 pre-estimates) and graphic and publishing products (€605 million) segments, and the highest specialisation in the tissue paper (20th in the world) and graphic paper (24th in the world) segments.
The growth prospects for this market over the next four years (2026-2029) appear moderately favourable, with Italian exports in the sector expected to grow by an average of 3,2 percentage points per annum in euro terms. Growth will be driven in particular by the converting machinery sector, which, together with the printing machinery sector, is the one with the highest Italian export values on the Emirati market (€2.6 million and €10.1 million respectively, according to preliminary figures for 2025).
