A makeup artist demonstrates techniques during the 2026 Korea Beauty Festival at HiKR Ground in Seoul, Thursday, as Korea ramps up efforts to expand its cosmetics exports globally. Yonhap
Korea is expanding its cultural and economic footprint into the Middle East, launching a state-backed initiative to help small and medium-sized cosmetics brands break into Saudi Arabia’s rapidly evolving beauty market.
The Ministry of SMEs and Startups, in partnership with the Korean Embassy in Riyadh, unveiled Monday a comprehensive support program designed to connect domestic independent beauty labels with major Saudi retail networks.
Long considered a market with immense potential but prohibitive regulatory barriers, Saudi Arabia has become a prime target for international cosmetics companies.
Recent social liberalization policies, combined with a rise in women entering the workforce, have fueled unprecedented demand for skin care and cosmetics. Yet, navigating the kingdom’s strict regulatory compliance and establishing distribution lines have remained major hurdles for smaller, independent enterprises.
