JEDDAH: Women entrepreneurs have urged universities and colleges to introduce interior decoration and furnishing courses to meet increasing demands in the Saudi market.

“The rapidly expanding Saudi market needs more than 50,000 specialists, both male and female, in interior decoration, home and office furnishings,” Haya Sunaidi of Sunaidi Expo told a press conference organized by the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) on Sunday.

“The present Saudi manpower available for the highly specialized field of interior decoration and furnishings is less than one percent,” said Haya. “If we have dedicated institutions for such specialized areas, we could qualify our youth and engage them in this highly competitive, specialized, rewarding and lucrative sector instead of depending on overseas specialists,” she said.

Haya said that there are 66 factories and workshops producing furniture with annual sales exceeding SR1.4 billion across the Kingdom.

“Demand for furniture is growing rapidly, as Saudi families change their furniture and furnishings every three to five years at a cost ranging between SR30,000 and SR150,000,” she added.

It is against this background that a deco fair is being organized at the JCCI’s Jeddah Center for Forums & Events from Nov. 8-12. More than 1,000 representatives of 200 companies are taking part in the fair, described as the first of its kind in the Middle East. “The fair is coming up at a time when the Saudi market for decors and furnishings is SR400 million strong,” said Haya, who is also the chairperson of the fair’s organizing committee.