Summary

The Middle East and Africa have witnessed steady growth over the past few years, owing to an increase in the number of people suffering from chronic diseases such as depression and diabetes. There is a significant opportunity for expansion by engaging existing wheelchair users or patients with disabilities who are not currently using wheelchairs due to a lack of awareness about these assistive devices. The Middle East and Africa wheelchair market is expected to grow the slowest due to factors such as limited access to and availability of treatment facilities. Wheelchairs are required in the Middle East and Africa for a variety of reasons. One of the main reasons is that many people in these areas have mobility issues as a result of accidents, diseases, or birth defects. In addition, inadequate infrastructure, including poorly maintained roads, a lack of ramps or elevators, and limited public transportation options, can make it difficult for people with mobility impairments to move around independently. Furthermore, in many communities in the Middle East and Africa, there may be cultural or social stigmas surrounding disabilities, which can lead to isolation and exclusion for people with mobility impairments. Having a wheelchair can help improve their quality of life and enable them to participate more fully in their communities. Unfortunately, access to wheelchairs is often limited in this region, particularly in more rural areas or among marginalized populations. These factors are making it difficult for people with mobility impairments to access education, healthcare, and employment opportunities, further perpetuating cycles of poverty and exclusion.

According to the research report, "Middle East and Africa Wheelchair Market Outlook, 2028," published by Bonafide Research, the market is projected to reach USD 431 million by 2028. The Middle East and Africa market is projected to gain momentum in the forthcoming years on the back of the rising potential growth of the healthcare sector across the region. With the growing establishment of hospitals, the growing urbanization and population base, and the rising prevalence of chronic disease, these factors are proven efficient in bolstering product demand, and the growing government has been taking initiative by investing a high amount in the availability of the wheelchair. As a result, it is estimated that this will help in the widening of the wheelchair market in the upcoming years. Further, the market is projected to witness significant growth owing to the increasing disability ratio in African countries. The increasing prevalence of disability in South Africa is contributing to the growth of the wheelchair market across the region. Technological advancements in electric wheelchairs to improve medical conditions such as physical disability and provide easy mobility to disabled people are expected to boost the growth of the wheelchair market.

Countries in the Middle East have also been widely affected by the socio-economic conditions caused by the COVID–19 pandemic. However, the countries have reacted wisely to the COVID-19 pandemic in order to prevent the spread of infection. Lockdown and social distancing were imposed, as in other regions, which have hampered access to work, regular income, payments, fairs, schools, and healthcare. As a result, it is expected that the countries have suffered significant losses and are still attempting to recover from them. The lockdown has had a significant impact on the region's non-emergency medical services, which has impacted the medical device sector. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are emerging as regional healthcare destinations. They rely on resources provided by developed countries. In South Africa, government agencies such as the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) have implemented a number of initiatives and grants aimed at reducing the potential negative impact of the pandemic on the availability of mobility devices for people with disabilities. Furthermore, the availability of vaccines and other healthcare facilities in the region's developing countries is expected to provide opportunities for market players in the wheelchair market for the next few years.

Home care is becoming increasingly popular in developing countries as a promising option for providing care to the elderly, people suffering from chronic diseases, and patients with disabilities. Furthermore, factors such as changes in disease epidemiology and demographic trends, the emergence of user-centered services, the availability of new support technologies, and the growing demand to reconfigure health systems to improve responsiveness, continuity, efficiency, and equity are bolstering the growth of the homecare market in developing countries. Furthermore, an increasing number of government programs, initiatives, and investments are enabling the advancement of medical technologies, which will eventually lead to the growth of the home medical devices market. Advances in homecare products and services, as well as growing acceptance for them, are creating opportunities for wheelchair market players to grow in the future. Vendors can attract new customers and expand their footprints in emerging markets by introducing new features and technologies. This factor will almost certainly drive the wheelchair market. During the forecast period, the Middle East and Africa Wheelchair Market is expected to grow at a healthy CAGR.

According to the report, the market is segmented into three major countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa. Among them, South Africa is leading the market in 2022 and is projected to dominate the market during the forecast period as well. In South Africa, there are a number of organizations that provide wheelchair services to people with disabilities, including the Department of Health, the National Council for Persons with Physical Disabilities in South Africa (NCPPDSA), and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) such as the Wheelchair Foundation South Africa and the QuadPara Association of South Africa. The South African government has also implemented policies to improve accessibility for people with disabilities, including the Integrated National Disability Strategy (INDS) and the Universal Access Plan (UAP). These policies aim to promote equal opportunities for people with disabilities, improve access to public facilities, and provide support for the development and manufacture of assistive devices such as wheelchairs. On the other hand, emerging countries such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE are projected to showcase a promising Middle East and Africa wheelchair market during the forecast period. The Saudi Arabian government has also implemented policies to improve accessibility for people with disabilities, including the Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to create a more inclusive society for people with disabilities, and the National Transformation Program 2020, which includes initiatives to improve healthcare services for people with disabilities.

Based on the report, the market is segmented into various functions, including basic, sports, bariatric, and others. Among them, the basic wheel chair segment is projected to acquire nearly half of the market share by 2028. Basic wheelchairs are affordable and widely used among people with disabilities who have limited financial resources and limited access to advanced mobility devices. The basic wheelchair market in the Middle East and Africa region is expected to continue growing in the coming years, driven by increasing demand for affordable mobility devices and advances in wheelchair technology, particularly in the areas of comfort and durability. The sports wheelchair market in the MEA region is a niche market that caters to people with disabilities who participate in various sports and recreational activities. Sports wheelchairs are specially designed to provide mobility and manoeuvrability for athletes with disabilities and are made from lightweight materials such as aluminum and titanium to allow for maximum speed and agility. In the Middle East and Africa, particularly in countries such as South Africa, there is a strong culture of sports and recreational activities. In South Africa, wheelchair basketball is a popular sport, and the country has a national team that competes in international tournaments. The South African Sports Association for the Physically Disabled (SASAPD) is an organization that promotes adaptive sports, including wheelchair basketball, and provides training and support to athletes with disabilities. On the other hand, some of the popular bariatric wheelchair brands available in the MEA region include Invacare, Drive Medical, and Pride Mobility. These brands offer a range of bariatric wheelchairs that are designed to meet the needs of different users, including manual and power wheelchairs.

The Middle East and Africa region is home to a growing population of people with disabilities, and there is an increasing demand for mobility devices such as wheelchairs. Dubai Taxi Corporation operates taxis throughout the day that are driven by well-trained drivers and equipped with special lifts to support a wheelchair, a wheelchair on board, and seats for companions and artificial respiratory systems. In Dubai metro stations, there is a designated space for a wheelchair in each carriage, usually near the door. The government issues health cards to people who have physical mobility issues, allowing them to use public transportation for free. The ease of using a wheelchair while traveling, as well as the high demand for mobility assistance in public places, are expected to drive up demand for wheelchairs in the UAE. In recent years, there have been several product launches for wheelchairs in the region, aimed at improving the quality of life for people with disabilities. For instance, Ottobock Middle East launched the "Avantgarde X" lightweight wheelchair, which is designed to provide maximum comfort and mobility for users. Sunrise Medical launched the "Quickie 7R," an ultra-lightweight folding wheelchair that is designed to be easily transported and maneuverer in tight spaces. Invacare launched the "Top End Crossfire All Terrain" wheelchair, which is designed for outdoor use and can handle rough terrain. Karma Mobility launched the "Ergo Lite 2," a lightweight wheelchair that is designed to be highly adjustable and customizable for individual users. In addition to that, Permobil launched the "F5 Corpus VS" standing wheelchair, which allows users to easily change positions from sitting to standing.

Companies Mentioned in this Report:
Karma Medical Products Co., Ltd., Ride Designs, Invacare Corporation, Levo AG, Matia Mobility, Permobil AB, Pride Mobility Products Corporation, Sunrise Medical LLC, CE Mobility, Eurovema AB

Considered in this report
• Geography: Middle East & Africa
• Historic year: 2017
• Base year: 2022
• Estimated year: 2023
• Forecast year: 2028

Aspects covered in this report
• Middle East & Africa wheelchair market with its value and forecast along with its segments
• Country-wise wheelchair market analysis
• Various drivers and challenges
• On-going trends and developments
• Top profiled companies
• Strategic recommendation

Countries covered in the report:
• United Arab Emirates
• Saudi Arabia
• South Africa

By Product type:
• Electric & Powered Wheelchair
• Manual Wheelchair

By Category Type:
• Adult
• Paediatric

By Application Type:
• Homecare
• Hospitals
• Ambulatory Surgical Centers
• Rehabilitation Centers

The approach of the report:
This report consists of a combined approach of primary as well as secondary research. Initially, secondary research was used to get an understanding of the market and listing out the companies that are present in the market. The secondary research consists of third party sources such as press releases, annual report of companies, analysing the government generated reports and databases. After gathering the data from secondary sources primary research was conducted by making telephonic interviews with the leading players about how the market is functioning and then conducted trade calls with dealers and distributors of the market. Post this we have started doing primary calls to consumers by equally segmenting consumers in regional aspects, tier aspects, age group, and gender. Once we have primary data with us we have started verifying the details obtained from secondary sources.

Intended audience
This report can be useful to industry consultants, manufacturers, suppliers, associations & organizations related to Wheelchair industry, government bodies and other stakeholders to align their market-centric strategies. In addition to marketing & presentations, it will also increase competitive knowledge about the industry.

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