The 29th China International Pet Show (CIPS 2025) has successfully concluded. The four-day exhibition brought together 1,230 high-quality exhibitors and attracted professional visitors from 125 countries and regions for exchanges. The total number of attendees during the exhibition reached 84,890, a 21% increase compared with last year, generating more active procurement demand on site. With the continuous expansion of the international audience scale, the focus of procurement and exchanges at the exhibition has gradually shown a different emphasis from previous years.

While mature markets such as Europe and the United States maintain a stable procurement pace, the consulting activity in emerging markets including the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Latin America and Africa has increased significantly. In addition to the long-term partners who have accompanied CIPS for more than two decades, a growing number of emerging players choose to participate in the exhibition to expand their business. Although they are first-time attendees, they will spread news of CIPS to more regions and bring more peers to the exhibition in the future.

On-site, we specially invited some buyers to participate in interviews, interpreting the current situation and trends of the pet and aquarium market from their frontline perspective. The series of content is divided into three phases, and this issue is the first release. Please stay tuned for subsequent shares.

As the global pet industry moves towards high-quality development, the Middle East market, with its continuously rising consumption capacity and evolving pet-raising concepts, has emerged as one of the core growth engines of the industry. Pet Arabia, a leading pet enterprise in Bahrain with 16 years of experience in the industry, has secured a foothold in the mid-to-high-end market. During the exhibition, Abdulrahman Salah, General Manager of Pet Arabia, shared the company’s development strategy, market observations and future plans.

Question 1：could you briefly introduce your company, including core product categories and target customer groups?

Abdulrahman Salah：My name is Abdulrahman Salah, Managing Director of Pet Arabia. Founded in 2009, our company boasts 16 years of experience in the pet industry and is among the pioneers in Bahrain’s pet market. We specialize in dog and cat products, covering premium pet food and eco-friendly accessories. We were the first to launch a luxury high-end pet store in Bahrain, and we still cater to mid-to-high-end customers. Our core focus lies in selecting premium, high-quality, natural and eco-friendly products. We never randomly source products that are widely available in the market. This strict product selection standard is one of our biggest selling points and the core strength that underpins our market competitiveness. In terms of business model, we integrate retail, import and distribution. Currently, we are the largest pet product distributor in Bahrain. Our business footprint extends beyond Bahrain to Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Oman. Recently, we opened a new luxury pet retail store in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to further expand our regional presence.

Question 2：How many times have you participated in CIPS?

Abdulrahman Salah：To be honest, I can’t remember exactly whether this is my third or fourth time attending. But the last time I was here was back in 2019, so I’ve been away for about six years. This time, I’m truly impressed by the changes. The exhibition features a much wider variety of products than before, with remarkable improvements and innovations, especially among Chinese manufacturers. I’m particularly interested in smart pet products, such as pet robots and automatic pet feeders. These cutting-edge items showcase the great innovation vitality of the industry.

Question 3：What is the main purpose of your participation in this exhibition?

Abdulrahman Salah：We have been cooperating with Chinese suppliers for 16 years, so this exhibition is an ideal platform for us to meet our existing partners face-to-face, exchange feedback, and gain first-hand access to new products. Meanwhile, we also hope to explore potential new suppliers and stay updated on the latest market trends. Besides, the exhibition is extremely well-organized. The scale is much larger than that of the 2019 edition. I really want to express my sincere gratitude to the organizers for their outstanding work in hosting this amazing event.

Question 4：How do you perceive the development trend of the pet market in your country?

Abdulrahman Salah：Sadly, the market growth slowed down after the COVID-19 pandemic. But recently, I’ve noticed signs of recovery and the market is growing again. However, this growth is accompanied by several challenges. The most prominent one is the fierce competition from e-commerce platforms like Temu, AliExpress and Shein. These platforms have triggered a structural shift in the market. Now, many customers prefer to buy low-priced pet accessories online, while they still rely on physical pet stores for pet food, treats and large-sized pet supplies. This market shift is also having a significant impact on Chinese manufacturers. I’ve noticed that some of them have already voiced their concerns. To adapt to this change, many manufacturers have adjusted their strategies: some have launched dual product lines for international and local markets respectively; some have adopted differentiated pricing policies; others are even revamping their product lines at a fast pace. Unfortunately, this market transformation has mostly negative impacts on small-scale manufacturers. They lack the resources and capabilities to keep up with the rapid changes in the market. It will be interesting to see how the market evolves next year, especially with the continuous global expansion of these online platforms.

Question 5：What types of products at the exhibition attract you the most?

Abdulrahman Salah：What strikes me most is that an increasing number of Chinese manufacturers have started to build their own brands, which was not the case in the past. I find this trend very interesting, and I believe it will exert a far-reaching influence on the global pet market in the future. I anticipate that more and more Chinese manufacturers will focus on developing independent brands and promoting their global distribution. There is huge market potential in this segment, and Chinese manufacturers are well-positioned to capitalize on this opportunity.

Question 6：Do you have any development plans in the Chinese market for the future?

Abdulrahman Salah：As I mentioned earlier, we have long-term cooperation with Chinese factories, and we also rely on them for new product development. We have received strong support from inspection companies, audit firms and laboratories in China, which have helped us develop new products. These new products are still under development, so I can’t disclose details at this stage. But I’m confident that we can jointly create innovative, practical and marketable products with our Chinese partners.

Question 7：Will you continue to participate in the future?

Abdulrahman Salah：As I said before, the organizers have done an amazing job this year. I have high expectations for next year’s exhibition. I hope to see an even larger-scale event with a more diverse range of products when I come back next year. I also want to thank the organizers again for the invitation, warm hospitality and all the support they provided throughout the process. We definitely plan to attend CIPS every year in the future.