The Ninth Retail Leaders Circle MENA Summit, the foremost platform for the regional retail sector, will commence on March 7 at the Fairmont Riyadh hotel.

This is the third time that the two-day signature event will be hosted in Riyadh. This year the RLC MENA Summit will address the challenge of creating purpose-driven experiences as part of the overall theme of ‘Digital Economy and Purposeful Growth.’

The event will host thought-provoking sessions, task-force roundtables and engaging live experiences. Influential C-suite leaders, industry pioneers and innovators will explore the impact of the new digital era on entrepreneurship, innovation and collaboration.

The Summit’s lineup of speakers comprises the most influential voices in the regional retail sector. Speakers include Ali Bailoun, Regional GM for KSA, Bahrain and Oman at Visa; Burak Cakmak, CEO of the Saudi Fashion Commission; Patrick Chalhoub, Group President of Chalhoub Group; John Hadden, CEO of Alshaya Group; Ahmed Ismail, CEO of Majid Al Futtaim Holding; Renuka Jagtiani, Chairwoman of Landmark Group; Faraz Khalid, CEO of noon; Amin Magrabi, Chairman of MAGRABi Group; and Mohamad Mourad, managing director and CEO of Cenomi Group, which is also the Summit’s Strategic Partner.

International speakers include Peter Fader, Professor of Marketing at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania; Matthew Shay, the President and CEO of the U.S. National Retail Federation, the world’s largest retail trade association; Michael Ward, Managing Director of Harrods; and Zia Daniell Wigder, Chief Content Officer at Insider Intelligence.

Global leader in digital payments, Visa, returns as the event’s Headline Partner for the fourth consecutive year.

Ali Bailoun, Visa’s Regional GM for KSA, Bahrain and Oman, said: “The unprecedented growth in digital commerce during the pandemic has prompted retailers to evolve how they engage with customers who increasingly seek seamless and secure payment experiences. In fact, 4 in 5 consumers we surveyed in Saudi Arabia would switch retailers based on the payment methods offered, with digital payments – especially contactless – preferred over cash. Through our sponsorship of Retail Leaders Circle we will explore how Visa, together with our local industry partners, can help the retail sector in Saudi Arabia and the region better leverage the exciting growth opportunities of the digital economy.”

Chaloub Group, the leading partner for luxury across the Middle East is a Platinum Partner of the event.

Patrick Chaloub, Group President at Chalhoub Group, said, “To inspire, exhilarate and delight our customers, it takes a group of like-minded leaders, retailers and government bodies to create a seamless value chain in retail from the first step to the last mile. Such conversations and engagements always take place professionally during the Retail Leaders Circle in Riyadh. Our partnership goes beyond the event, as we continue to collaborate to shape and grow the future of the Kingdom’s and region’s retail sector.”

The Summit also hosts a retail exhibition, which this year will include an exhibition of some of Saudi’s most exciting home-grown brands, presented by the Saudi 100 Brands initiative under the Saudi Fashion Commission. Leading digital platforms including TikTok and Snap will also be represented, showcasing innovative ways to reach the modern connected consumer.

“The Retail Leaders Circle MENA Summit is more than an opportunity to network and learn from the sector’s leading thinkers; it is also a platform that supports delegates seeking to do business at scale,” said Panos Linardos, Chairman of the Retail Leaders Circle.

“We recognize the challenges and opportunities of this new era. Our goal is to elevate the industry narrative by leveraging our collective power and expertise to drive positive change.”

The invitation-only event expects to welcome more than 4,000 delegates this year. A limited number of invitations are still available on application via the RLC website at www.mena.retailleaderscircle.com.

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