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Health

Optician and eyewear shop feasibility study

Latest regulatory change: 2024 · reviewed 2026-11-05

An optician offering eye tests, prescription glasses, contact lenses and sunglasses.

  • 50%Saudization rate for optical professions[2]
  • SAR 5,500minimum wage for a Saudi technician under Saudization[1]
  • 5.80%expected compound annual market growth[5]

Latest regulatory and market changes

  1. 2022The Ministry of Human Resources announced Saudization of optical professions at 50% for facilities with 4 or more employees, with a minimum wage of SAR 5,500.[1]
  2. 2023Saudization of optical technician and eyeglass technician roles came into force on 18 March after the grace period ended.[2]
  3. 2024The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) issued the third edition of its guide to labelling information for contact lenses and their solutions.[4]

Why now

  • Saudising half of technical roles increases demand for Saudi technicians and raises staff costs.[2]
  • The market is expected to grow from USD 1.46 billion in 2026 to USD 2.29 billion in 2034.[5]
  • Contact lenses are medical devices subject to SFDA labelling and marketing requirements.[4]

USD 1.38 billionSize of the eyewear market in Saudi Arabia in 2025, with expected compound annual growth of 5.80% to 2034, according to a market research firm's estimate.[5]

The idea and business model

An optical outlet offering eye tests, dispensing prescription glasses and selling contact lenses and sunglasses. Revenue comes from selling and fitting frames and lenses, and from contact lenses and their solutions.

Model: Site-based retail

Project economics

Revenue formula

Monthly customers×Average order value×Conversion rate from eye test to purchase

Sales channels

  • Prescription glasses
  • Contact lenses and solutions
  • Sunglasses

Largest cost items

  • Frame and lens stock
  • Testing and lab equipment
  • Optometrist and technician salaries
  • Site rent

Decisive indicators we measure

  • Average order value
  • Conversion rate from eye tests
  • Frame stock turnover
  • Contact lens share of sales

Relevant authorities

  • Ministry of Health: optical shop licence
  • Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS): classification of optometrists and eyeglass technicians
  • Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD): Saudization of optical professions
  • Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA): contact lenses and their solutions
  • Ministry of Municipalities and Housing (MoMAH) via Balady: municipal licence

What needs your attention

  • A 50% Saudization rate for technicians in facilities with 4 or more employees.
  • Equipping the testing room and lab raises the initial investment.
  • Online competition in sunglasses and contact lenses.

What a Optician and eyewear shop study calculates for you

  • Cost of equipping the testing room and lab
  • Staff cost under the Saudization rate
  • Frame stock and its turnover
  • Sales mix between prescription, sunglasses and contact lenses
  • Monthly orders needed to break even

Every one of these figures appears in your study with its source and date, built on your location and capital, with a clear line between documented facts and assumptions.

Sources

Most sources are Saudi government and press pages in Arabic; titles are kept in their original language so you can find them.

  1. وزير الموارد البشرية يصدر 6 قرارات لتوطين عدد من المهن والأنشطةوزارة الموارد البشرية والتنمية الاجتماعية · 2022-06
  2. بدء تطبيق توطين قطاع البصرياتوزارة الموارد البشرية والتنمية الاجتماعية · 2023-03
  3. بدء سريان توطين قطاع البصرياتالاقتصادية · 2023-03
  4. الدليل الإرشادي للمعلومات التعريفية للعدسات اللاصقة ومحاليلهاالهيئة العامة للغذاء والدواء · 2024-10
  5. Saudi Arabia Eyewear MarketIMARC Group · 2026-09

Last reviewed: 4 November 2026. This page introduces the activity; detailed figures belong in the study.