Why Did Lenskart Expand into Saudi Arabia's Eyewear Market?

The move into Saudi Arabia builds on over a decade of expansion across India and international markets.

Last year, Saudi Arabia's retail sector was valued at around $42.6 billion (SAR 160 billion), growing at a CAGR of 4-5% annually. As the retail sector accelerates, AI and omnichannel strategies continue to enhance customer experience and drive its digitally led growth.

Positioned at the intersection of retail and digital transformation, Lenskart is building multiple customer touchpoints across the Kingdom to meet growing demand and ensure seamless distribution of its products and services.

Expanding from India into Saudi Arabia, Lenskart is leveraging the Kingdom’s growing retail and digital economy to strengthen its regional footprint.

Establishing a First-Mover Edge in Saudi Arabia's Eyewear Market

Upon its launch, Lenskart has pursued aggressive expansion within Saudi Arabia, establishing six strategic locations: four stores throughout Riyadh and two in Jeddah.

Supporting its expansion is AstroLabs, the Gulf's leading business setup and growth platform.

Speaking about AstroLabs' role in streamlining Lenskart's business setup in Saudi Arabia, Aina Garg, the managing director of Lenskart Middle East, said, "[AstroLabs] was instrumental in setting our system in place, banking on vast experience in Saudi Arabia. For us, they have been partners, not just enablers. Once we started getting through the process and later progressed with AstroLabs, we started moving much faster.”

Enlisting the help of an on-ground, subject-matter expert has allowed Lenkart to achieve operational readiness, expand its reach, and focus on bringing its business initiatives to life.

"Having the right partner helps in gaining more confidence in the market, given the fact that we are the first foreign company in the eyewear space," she added.

Lenkart's Saudi expansion comes on the heels of over a decade of significant growth in its founding market and globally.

Since its founding in 2010, Lenskart has transformed India’s eyewear industry through innovative omnichannel retail strategies. Today, Lenskart serves over 40 million customers globally while maintaining an extensive product portfolio featuring more than 6,000 eyewear designs.

The brand's mobile application has achieved remarkable adoption, surpassing 50 million downloads and demonstrating strong digital engagement across markets.

Lenskart Taps Saudi Arabia’s Growing E-commerce Market

Lenskart's expansion comes at a time when the e-commerce market is witnessing rapid growth. This has made Saudi Arabia an attractive market for global businesses and a fertile ground for Lenskart's operations.

“E-commerce plays a crucial role in realizing Vision 2030. Firstly, it helps in building skilled individuals in areas such as digital marketing, logistics, and overall technology, thereby improving the employability of the new workforce. Secondly, it nurtures an entrepreneurial culture and business environment. Lastly, it promotes digitization,” Garg noted.

The sector’s growth trajectory has bolstered its attractiveness to foreign companies. In Q2 2025 alone, e-commerce has attracted 39,366 commercial registrations (CRs) in Q2 2025. And, as of Q4 2024, Saudi Arabia hosted over 41,000 registered e-commerce companies, with Riyadh accounting for 16,834 registrations.

For Lenskart, these market transformations unlock opportunities to use big data and analytics for personalized customer experiences. The company's recent acquisition of fellow competitor TangoEye, an AI-based computer vision startup, highlights its commitment to improving customer experience using artificial intelligence.

Establishing an on-ground presence in Saudi Arabia's fast-moving market allows Lenskart to deliver on its commitment to serving one billion eyes by 2025.

“We are the disruptors. We could not wait any longer; it was a clear decision [to expand into Saudi]. The market is right for getting the right talent. The women in Saudi Arabia, in particular, are going above and beyond,” Garg added.

Related read: ​​Setting up an E-commerce Business in Saudi Arabia: Procedures, Regulations and More