Middle East & Africa Educational Furniture Market Forecast to 2030 - Regional Analysis - by Material, Product Type, and End Use

The Middle East & Africa educational furniture market was valued at US$ 321.46 million in 2022 and is expected to reach US$ 450.97 million by 2030; it is estimated to record a CAGR of 4.3% from 2022 to 2030.

Growing Popularity of Ergonomic Furniture Bolsters Middle East & Africa Educational Furniture Market

As many people spend extended periods sitting at desks and workstations, ergonomic furniture has become a major trend in recent years. This trend has extended to the education sector, where students and teachers spend long hours sitting at desks and tables. Creating learning environments that keep students focused and comfortable has become one of the prime goals of educators, which has increased the demand for ergonomically designed furniture to avoid health issues arising from incorrect body postures while sitting. Ergonomic furniture is designed to promote healthy posture and reduce the risk of musculoskeletal disorders caused by prolonged sitting. Ergonomic chairs, desks, and tables can be adjusted to accommodate different heights and body types, and are designed to provide support for the back, neck, arms, and wrists. Raw materials that are more durable, sustainable, and stable than traditional ones are used in the production of ergonomic furniture. For example, materials such as processed or engineered wood, molded plastics, and high-pressure laminates are used to manufacture chairs, benches, and tables for schools. Further, furniture with additional storage options acts as a space-saving solution in smaller, more compact classrooms, and its demand has increased significantly in recent years. For instance, CBT Supply, Inc. dba Smartdesks produces smart tables and chairs with stackable options and multifunctional applications for classrooms and school offices. Thus, the emerging trend of ergonomic furniture is likely to boost the growth of the education furniture market during the forecast period.

Middle East & Africa Educational Furniture Market Overview

According to the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), Dubai registered a surge in school enrollments by 5% in 2022 compared to 2020. The city marked the presence of 215 schools with 18 curriculum options as of 2022. The provision of high-quality education at affordable fee structures, rise in employment opportunities, and economic boom (attributed to the Expo Dubai 2020) are among the factors contributing to the increasing school admissions in the region. The rising admission rate in educational institutes and the availability of government funding for school infrastructure development in rural and urban areas are expected to drive the demand for educational furniture and related products.

As per the World Bank Group, in 2020, the literacy rate in the Middle East & North Africa was 90.33%, which was 0.21% higher than that in 2019. School furniture manufacturers in the Middle East and Africa are undertaking efforts to expand their production facilities to ensure a steady supply of durable furniture that suits the requirement of educational institutes.

Middle East & Africa Educational Furniture Market Segmentation

The Middle East & Africa educational furniture market is segmented based on material, product type, end use, and country.

Based on material, the Middle East & Africa educational furniture market is segmented into wood, plastic, metal, and others. The wood segment held the largest Middle East & Africa educational furniture market share in 2022.

In terms of product type, the Middle East & Africa educational furniture market is categorized into benches and chairs, desks and tables, storage units, and others. The benches and chairs segment the largest Middle East & Africa educational furniture market share in 2022.

In terms of end use, the Middle East & Africa educational furniture market is bifurcated into institutional and residential. The institutional segment held a larger Middle East & Africa educational furniture market share in 2022. The institutional segment is further sub segmented into elementary school, secondary school, and higher education.

Based on country, the Middle East & Africa educational furniture market is categorized into the UAE, South Africa, Saudia Arabia, and the Rest of Middle East & Africa. The Rest of Middle East & Africa dominated the Middle East & Africa educational furniture market in 2022.

Knoll Inc, Haworth Inc, Vitra International AG, and Virco Manufacturing Corp are some of the leading companies operating in the Middle East & Africa educational furniture market.