Retail Congress MENA 2025: Record Turnout Sets Stage for Transformed Future

The Middle East Council of Shopping Centres and Retailers (MECSR) successfully concluded Retail Congress MENA 2025 on October 14, following two days of intensive dialogue, strategic networking, and transformative insights at The Ritz-Carlton, DIFC in Dubai. Under the theme, “Hit Reset: Transforming Retail for Impact,” the two-day congress assembled thousands of regional and international stakeholders to examine the fundamental recalibration reshaping Middle Eastern retail landscapes.

The 2025 edition recorded strong participation from chief executives, commercial real estate developers, retail operators, technology solutions, architects, and institutional investors. Participation was noted across conference sessions, exhibition areas, and networking zones, demonstrating a collective and robust commitment to advancing the retail sector.

The conference agenda delivered two impactful days of rich content, featuring keynotes, panel discussions, and fireside chats led by regional and global experts. The discourse centred on the most pressing opportunities and transformations shaping the industry. Topics such as the Artificial Intelligence (AI) in retail, strategies for e-commerce and omnichannel growth, the imperative of sustainability, the rapid development of the Saudi retail market, the creation of experiential destinations, and the evolution of luxury retail were thoroughly explored, providing attendees with actionable insights.

Parallel to the conference, the exhibition floor featured live product demonstrations, project showcases, and curated meetings that successfully fostered new partnerships and generated significant business opportunities.

The congress witnessed numerous on-site partnership formalizations executed within the designated Media Zone, providing public validation of strategic alignments emerging from the gathering. Leading regional developers, international retail brands, and technology infrastructure providers announced collaborative frameworks encompassing joint venture establishments, exclusive distribution agreements, and technology licensing arrangements.

Retail Congress MENA 2025 culminated with the MECSR Shopping Centre and Retailer MENA Awards 2025, an evening ceremony honouring outstanding achievement across multiple performance dimensions. The awards program evaluated nominations spanning design & development, marketing, retail innovation, customer service distinction and industry support services. Recognition categories encompassed both established large-format developments and emerging boutique concepts, reflecting the sector's diversity.

Reflecting on the success of the event, David Macadam, CEO of the Middle East Council of Shopping Centres and Retailers (MECSR), stated: "Retail Congress MENA 2025 delivered measurable value across every dimension of our programming. The record attendance, combined with the substantive partnerships formalized on-site and the caliber of strategic discourse throughout our sessions, validates the congress as the region's essential platform for retail transformation. Our participants left equipped with actionable insights, new commercial relationships, and renewed conviction in the sector's trajectory."

MECSR featured participation from industry partners, including Cenomi Centers; Unified Real Estate Development; Azad Properties; Hamat; Knowledge Economic City Co.; Al Othaim Investment; Kaden; Red Sea Mall; Al Rashid Mall | Danah Real Estate; Jabal Omar Development Company; Dalma Mall; Line Investments & Property; Saudi Bonyan; Yardi Systems; Sensormatic; Kalandoor Group; Tilal Village; Champion Group; Giftstarr; PHIL McARTHUR & PARTNERS Retail Development Specialists; Vemco Group; Giftify; Hype-CS; Alandalus Property; BurJuman; Ground Control; Xpandretail; AI Solutions LLC; Big Apple Sweet (Café Barbera); Chris G Studio; Premagic; V4texx International; Dhamani; Proximi; Crystal House Sharjah; Inhouse Graphics LLC; Magic Innovations; Awwal Events; Fairplatz; Yardstick Marketing Management; Coral Coast; RLI; and Eye of Riyadh.

Following the 2025 edition's successful conclusion, planning activities for Retail Congress MENA 2026 have formally commenced. The gathering will continue serving as the region's preeminent convening platform for retail sector stakeholders, providing essential infrastructure for knowledge exchange, partnership formation, and collective advancement of industry standards.

The MECSR events team welcomes expressions of interest from both organizations with established congress participation history and entities newly considering engagement with the region's premier retail industry gathering. Organizations seeking to align with Retail Congress MENA 2026 through sponsorship arrangements, exhibition participation, or strategic partnerships are invited to initiate preliminary discussions with the MECSR events team.