Transform or Die!

Dubai, UAE, 19 March 2019:  A recent study published in partnership with The Retail Leaders Circle MENA, showed that digital transformation is the biggest focus for Retail CEOs in the GCC. With the emergence of e-commerce, reduced consumer spending and new malls opening every quarter, it has never been more important for brands and mall operators to capture the attention and spending power of the modern consumer.  

The 5th Edition of the Retail Leaders Circle MENA Summit returns to Dubai on 25th-26th March at the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeriah Beach to provide a platform for the region’s thought leaders to discuss the future of the retail and commerce industry. 

The agenda for the upcoming event has been published online with highlights including talks such as ‘Executive Insights: Retail and Consumer Industries in the Next 10 Years’ from Kristina Rogers - Global Consumer Lead for EY, ‘Intelligent Retail’ with Ramy Fares - Director of Retail, Travel & Transport for Microsoft MENA and Patrick Bousquet Chavanne - CEO of Emaar Malls and ‘Saudi Arabia: Economic Outlook and the Future of Retail’ with Ibrahim Al Suwail - Deputy Governor of Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority and Mohammed R. Abaalkheil -  General Manager of Corporate Communications for the  Saudi Telecom Company.

Shane Eldstrom, CEO of Al Farwaniya Property Developments, the developer of Reem Mall, said: “With an ambition to become the world’s first fully digitally enabled mall, we are committed to revolutionizing the retail industry in MENA and beyond. Our sector is on the cusp of significant disruption, driven by a variety of factors such as technology evolution, fundamental changes in customer behaviour and evolving demographics. At Reem Mall, we strive to not only adapt, but to lead this transformation. Our forward-looking strategy leverages the full potential of digital products and technologies, helping us embrace customer needs and proactively create innovative industry solutions. The Retail Leaders Circle MENA Summit is the perfect platform for us to showcase our vision and engage with like-minded peers from across the region as we together shape the future of retail in MENA.”

Kristina Rogers, Global Consumer Leader, EY, said: “Retailers are concerned about offline vs. online but the real issue will be shop vs. buy. Shopping and buying will become very different activities. AI will curate and buy for us. We’ll only shop for the very few products and services that help us express who we are.”

‘There have never been so many options for the modern-day consumer. With mobile usage at almost 100% among GCC Millennials, customers have everything they desire within a touch of their smart phone. Therefore, to thrive in this new age of retail it is crucial for retailers to transform digitally, using technology to eradicate pain points and harness data to provide a bespoke, seamless customer experience. To help do this, The Retail Leaders Circle MENA provides an important meeting place for 300 delegates - from entrepreneurs, CEOs and thought leaders - to debate these principal challenges and opportunities that are disrupting the region’s retail agenda. We look forward to welcoming our guests later this month for another summit of insightful talks, innovative new research and rewarding networking,’ said Panos Linardos, Chairman of Retail Leaders Circle Global.