What Al Bashawri does

Al Bashawri (also trading as Al Bashawari Optical) is a privately held, family-owned optical retailer headquartered in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, and one of the longest-tenured consumer brands in the Kingdom, with operating roots extending to 1916 and currently in its third generation of ownership. The company sells prescription eyeglasses, sunglasses, clip-ons, contact lenses, and related accessories across a network of 13+ physical branches spanning multiple Saudi cities, complemented by an e-commerce platform. Its assortment spans licensed luxury fashion names (Versace, Maserati, Lamborghini), lifestyle brands (Polo, Pull & Bear, Mango, Superdry, Roberta di Camerino), and children's lines (SpongeBob, Barbie, Hot Wheels, Fisher-Price).

The business combines traditional optical retail with a recently introduced digital channel that incorporates an AI-powered virtual try-on feature for frame selection online. In-store professional eye examination services are offered across the branch network, anchoring the prescription-fulfillment workflow. Omnichannel order fulfillment, brand licensing arrangements with international houses, and integrated eye-care services form the operational backbone.

Revenue is generated primarily through direct-to-consumer retail of eyewear products and associated optometry services, with pricing tied to frame brand, lens specification, and accessory bundles. The company employs 51-100 people across retail, clinical, and digital functions. Its customer base is the Saudi consumer market, with no disclosed enterprise or institutional accounts, indicating a B2C go-to-market with diversified end-customer exposure.

Name

Al Bashawri

Legal name

Al Bashawri

Website

https://albashawri.com.sa

Company type

Private

Founded year

1916

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Al Bashawri is a family-owned Saudi optical retailer, founded in 1916 and now in its third generation, operating 13+ branches plus e-commerce across the Kingdom and selling licensed luxury, lifestyle, and children's eyewear brands with in-store eye exams and AI-powered virtual try-on online.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Optical Retail (Eyewear Retail)

NAICS

Optical Goods Retailers (45613)

SIC

Ophthalmic Goods (3851)

akta.pro primary industry

Prescription Eyewear Frames (Optical) (CRAAAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sunglasses (Non-Prescription) (CRAAAKAB), Luxury & Designer Eyewear (CRAAAKAD), Kids & Teen Eyewear (CRAAAKAE)

Keywords

• Optical retail
• Prescription eyewear
• Sunglasses sales
• Eye examination services
• Contact lenses

Headquarters

HQ city

Dammam

HQ country

Saudi Arabia

HQ region

Middle East

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Eyewear Retail: Revenue generated from direct sales of prescription eyeglasses, sunglasses, clip-on glasses, and accessories to consumers through online and physical retail channels. Products are sold at fixed retail prices with periodic promotional discounts.
2. Eye Examination Services: Professional optometry services offered at physical branches for vision testing and prescription verification.
3. Custom Lens Fitting: Revenue from lens customization including single vision lenses, progressive lenses, anti-reflective coating, scratch resistance, and UV protection options.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Al Bashawri retails prescription eyeglasses, sunglasses, clip-on glasses, contact lenses, and eyewear accessories from an exclusive portfolio of branded collections (luxury, premium, fashion, and children's brands). It sells direct to individual consumers through 13+ physical branches across Saudi Arabia and a nationwide e-commerce storefront, complemented by in-store professional eye examinations, custom lens fitting, and an AI-powered virtual try-on feature.

Product overview

Al Bashawri is a Saudi optical retail company with over 100 years of heritage operating more than 13 branches across the Kingdom. The company offers a comprehensive eyewear portfolio comprising prescription eyeglasses (نظارات طبية) with lens customization options (single vision, progressive, anti-reflective, scratch-resistant, UV protection), sunglasses (نظارات شمسية) with UV protection, clip-on combination glasses (كليب أون), and contact lenses (عدسات لاصقة), complemented by accessories. The product line features 13 branded collections including luxury brands Versace 1969, Maserati, Lamborghini, and Roberta Di Camerino; premium brands Polo and Mango; fashion brands Pull & Bear and Superdry; and children's brands SpongeBob, Barbie, and Hot Wheels. The company differentiates through AI-powered virtual try-on technology and professional eye examination services at physical stores.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sunglasses UV-protective sunglasses available in men's, women's, boys', and girls' categories, featuring brands such as Versace, Maserati, Polo, SpongeBob, and Lamborghini. Sold direct to individual consumers via physical branches and e-commerce.
• Prescription Eyeglasses Prescription eyeglasses with single vision and progressive lens options and anti-reflective, scratch-resistant, and UV protection coatings, available for men, women, boys, and girls across multiple branded collections. Sold direct to individual consumers via physical branches and e-commerce.
• Clip-On Glasses Combination sunglasses and prescription eyeglasses that clip on or off existing frames, available in Versace, Polo, and other branded options for all genders. Sold direct to individual consumers.
• Contact Lenses Contact lenses with educational resources on proper wear and care, including guidance on insertion and removal basics. Sold direct to individual consumers.
• Eyewear Accessories Eyewear accessories and related products to complement glasses and lenses, sold direct to individual consumers.
• Eye Examination Services Professional eye examinations conducted by qualified optometrists, available by appointment at Al Bashawri physical store locations across Saudi Arabia.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature1 record

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• EssilorLuxottica: Global eyewear conglomerate owning Ray-Ban, Oakley, Versace, Persol, and many licensed houses plus retail banners (LensCrafters, Sunglass Hut). Indirect comparable as the upstream licensor of many of the same brands Al Bashawri carries, and a powerful counterparty.
• Sunglass Hut: Global sunglasses specialty retailer operated by EssilorLuxottica with a multi-brand portfolio (Ray-Ban, Oakley, Prada, etc.). Overlaps on Al Bashawri's branded sunglasses assortment and licensed-portfolio strategy at much larger scale.
• GrandVision: Global optical retail operator (acquired by EssilorLuxottica) with banners including Vision Express, Pearle, and Générale d'Optique. Comparable as a multi-banner optical chain operator scaling into emerging markets.

Emerging players

• EyeBuyDirect: Online-first optical retailer offering prescription eyeglasses, sunglasses, and contact lenses at value pricing with home try-on. Comparable as a digital-native optical challenger testing the same online category Al Bashawri targets via its albashawri.com.sa storefront.

Direct peers

• Lenskart: India-headquartered omnichannel optical retailer famous for AI/AR virtual try-on, owned-brand and licensed frame inventory, and online-plus-physical store model. Highly comparable on tech stack, multi-brand assortment, and category coverage.
• Warby Parker: US-based DTC optical retailer with omni-channel (online plus physical stores), private-label and branded frames, and home try-on / virtual try-on functionality. Closely comparable business model pairing technology-led buying experience with retail footprint.
• Magrabi Optical: Magrabi is the leading Middle East optical chain founded in 1927, operating hospital and retail outlets across KSA and the wider region. Most comparable to Al Bashawri as a multi-brand omnichannel optical retailer with deep heritage in the same primary market.

Regional players

• Vision Express: Optical chain with MENA presence (under GrandVision) operating prescription eyeglasses, sunglasses, and eye-exam services through company-owned stores. Comparable as a branded optical retailer with a service-led omnichannel model, though primarily UK/MENA focused.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/albashawrisa
• Facebookfacebook.com/Albashawriksa-100081912923954
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/albashawri

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Al Bashawri