In the competitive and fast-evolving beauty market of the UAE and Saudi Arabia, selecting the right gel polish brand for your salon is more than choosing pretty colours—it’s about durability, safety, client experience, and business growth. As professional nail technicians or salon owners look to deliver premium looks and lasting results, the brand you partner with becomes a key differentiator. At Makear, we understand these demands—our premium European gel polish line is built with salon professionals in mind and tailored for the GCC market.
In this blog, we’ll walk you through how to evaluate professional gel polish brands, highlight what matters most for the UAE & Saudi Arabia environments, and explain why Makear offers a compelling partnership for premium salons.
1. Define What “Professional” Really Means
When we say “professional gel polish,” we’re referring to a product system used by trained nail technicians, designed to be applied, cured, maintained and removed safely and sustainably. Key features include:
- Formulated for repeated use in high-volume salons—multiple clients per day without compromise.
- Salon-grade durability, meaning wear that lasts most of the service interval (usually 2–3 weeks minimum).
- Compatible with industry curing systems (LED/UV lamps, 48 W or higher) and tools used in high-end salons.
- Safety and regulatory compliance—especially vital in the UAE & Saudi Arabia region where client expectations are high and regulatory scrutiny is increasing.
Before you evaluate brands, write down what your salon’s priorities are: client demographics, desired price point, turnaround time, and desired shelf-life. Having clarity makes brand comparison easier.
2. Key Criteria for Evaluating Gel Polish Brands
A. Ingredient Safety & Certification
In the UAE & Saudi Arabia, client awareness is rising: they ask about chemicals, allergens, cruelty-free status and country of origin. A professional brand demonstrates transparency around formulations, offers 3-free or better (free of formaldehyde, toluene, DBP) and is backed by production certifications.
Makear’s product literature states: “free from formaldehyde, toluene and DBP” and indicates high-quality components developed for demanding professionals.
B. Pigmentation, Colour Range & Finish
A good salon-brand offers strong pigment, smooth consistency, high gloss and a wide palette of colours and effects (neon, cat-eye, metallic, regular). This enables you to cater to multiple segments—from bridal clients in Dubai to luxury resorts in Al Ula.
Makear lists over 300 colours and various effect lines (Neon, Premium Glitter, Cat-Eye) designed for professional use.
C. Application Performance & Longevity
Top brands deliver consistent application (brush quality, gel viscosity, self-leveling), ease of removal, minimal lifting and good adhesion under high-use conditions (frequent washes, air-conditioning, pool exposure common in Gulf salons).
The Makear “Ultimate Guide” states that its gel polish offers “chip-free wear time of up to 3–4 weeks” and is tailored for professional nail studios.
D. Support, Training & Market Fit for GCC
Selecting a brand that offers training resources, colour marketing, local language support, regional shipping, and styling aids is critical. Gulf salons often rely on collections that match seasonal trends (Eid, resort, wedding) and regional client expectations (luxury finishes, metallics).
Makear highlights its presence in Arabia via its distributor Arabesque Trading W.L.L, and indicates training and support for professional use.
E. Business Model & Profitability
The right brand should fit your revenue model: wholesale pricing, margin potential for retailing to clients, and differentiating your salon from budget alternatives. For example, offering premium effect lines at a higher service tier.
When a brand offers a wide range of collections, salons can tier their pricing: classic colours, trend colours (neon/cat-eye) and add-on effects for higher ticket services.
3. GCC Environment Considerations: UAE & Saudi Arabia
The salon market in the GCC has particular environmental and business conditions you must factor in:
- Climate & usage: High indoor air-conditioning and frequent exposure to water/chemicals (poolside nails, resort spa guests) make durability and adhesion tougher. Choose brands proven in these conditions.
- High client expectations: Clients across Dubai, Riyadh and Jeddah look for “luxury nails” — finishes must be perfect, with minimal lift, high shine and premium presentation.
- Trends & mobility: Many clients travel, post to Instagram, and want expressive gel colour effects (neon, cat-eye). Ensuring your brand has trend collections supports marketing efforts and social media visibility.
- Regulatory & compliance demands: Brands must comply with safety standards, and you as salon owner must ensure materials meet local import/use-standards and client safety expectations.
- Competitive salon landscape: To differentiate you need more than standard colours — effects, exclusive collections, brand-backed promotions help set your offering apart.
Makear aligns with these conditions: professional grade, wide colour palette, multiple effect lines, European origin and regional distribution for Gulf salons.
4. Why Makear Is a Strong Choice for UAE & Saudi Salons
Putting theory into practice, the Makear brand offers salon-oriented features that check the criteria mentioned above:
- European Quality & Innovation: Makear emphasises “developed using advanced European technology,” deep pigmentation, premium bottle design and industry-level consistency. ([turn0search1])
- Safety & Professional Use: “For professional use only… products free of formaldehyde, toluene and DBP.” This supports salon standards and client assurance. ([turn0search7])
- Extensive Collections: With over 300 colours and effect lines (Neon, Cat-Eye, Premium Glitter) Makear empowers salons to offer both staple and trend-driven services. ([turn0search0])
- Regional Distribution & Support: Makear indicates GCC distribution (Arabesque Trading W.L.L) covering Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and beyond — a significant plus for sourcing, delivery and local support. ([turn0search1])
- Branding & Marketing Alignment: The brand’s professional positioning, packaging aesthetics and emphasis on “salon grade” help salons establish premium pricing and brand differentiation.
In short — Makear provides a complete system (colour, effect lines, accessories) that aligns with the business and client demands of UAE and Saudi salons.
5. A Step-by-Step Checklist for Salon Owners
Here’s a practical checklist you can use when evaluating gel polish brands for your salon:
- Order a sample kit with base, colour, top coat and effect lines.
- Test wear time after normal salon conditions (client uses gym, pool, frequent hand-washing).
- Check primer/adhesion performance especially on clients with oily nails or high-use hands.
- Assess removal / soak-off process (efficient removal saves technician time and prevents damage).
- Review colour palette & effect lines — look for enough variety to match your clientele (classic, trend, luxe).
- Check regional availability and shipping — delivery to UAE/Saudi, customs compliance, local pricing.
- Examine training & marketing support — brand-provided swipe files, social media content, in-salon visuals.
- Calculate costs and margin — wholesale price vs expected service pricing; include retail take-home potential (top coat, oils, colour bottles).
- Talk to other salons using the brand — testimonials or case studies increase trust.
- Ensure certifications and safety claims are clear and documented (important for client trust and possible regulatory checks).
If a brand meets these and aligns with your salon’s positioning, it becomes a strong candidate.
6. Common Pitfalls to Avoid
Even good brands can be less optimal if one of the criteria is ignored. Watch out for:
- Brands relying solely on “colour variety” but lacking durability or safety certification.
- Low wholesale pricing but high technical issues (lifting, chipping) which cost you time and reputation.
- Brands without regional support (slow shipping, import issues) leading to stock gaps.
- Inconsistent look or lack of effect lines — limiting your ability to upsell or capture trend-driven clients.
- Brands without marketing support — leaving you to build imagery and social presence from scratch.
Being mindful of these helps you choose not just a good gel polish, but a complete salon partner.
7. How to Roll Out a New Gel Polish Brand in Your Salon
Once you choose a brand like Makear, here's a rollout plan for your UAE or Saudi Arabia salon:
- Train your team on application technique, effect lines (neon, cat-eye), brand USP and removal procedure.
- Create a colour menu with classic, effect and trend sections; highlight brand-exclusive colours.
- Promote launch on social: show behind-the-scenes with brand visuals, client models, instagram reels.
- Offer training for clients or “brand night” event — introduce effect lines, have walk-in demos.
- Retail upsell: Makear offers accessories and care products (cuticle oils, top coats) — sell to clients as after-care.
- Monitor client feedback & retention: track wear time, lift rates, product reactions; use feedback to adjust.
- Seasonal campaigns: build around local events (Eid, resort holiday season in Dubai, wedding season in Saudi) using effect lines like neon, metallics.
This method ensures you maximise your investment in the brand and integrate it into your salon offering seamlessly.
8. Conclusion
In the dynamic salon market of the UAE and Saudi Arabia, choosing the right professional gel polish brand is pivotal to your service quality, client satisfaction and business growth. Focusing on safety, performance, colour range, support and regional fit will differentiate your salon. The Makear brand offers all these elements — premium quality, extensive collections, dedicated regional presence and professional salon support.
By selecting a brand aligned with your vision and deploying it strategically, you’re not just buying bottles of polish — you’re investing in your salon’s reputation, your team’s expertise and your clients’ loyalty.
To explore the full Makear range and start building your premium gel polish service, visit makearme.com.
Ready to elevate your salon? Choose smart. Choose professional. Choose lasting results.