Retail is – and will always remain — a people’s business. Be that interpreted as customer service, shopper analytics or in-store engagement, people are at the front and centre of every retailer’s strategy. But are retail professionals themselves innovating and evolving enough to service the dynamic consumer universe of today? Along with technology, the future of successful retail will determined by the depth of ideas, innovations and people skilled at managing – and benefiting from — the unpredictability of future shopping behaviours. MRF 2019 will bring together the Middle East’s most powerful retail influencers and leaders to focus on the 4 fundamentals driving profitable innovation in retail: People, Products, Processes and Technology.
Be a part of Middle East’s biggest retail congregation and learn directly from retail visionaries in our conference sessions.
Having graduated from Les Roches Hotel Management School in Switzerland, Abdul Kader Saadi joined the Sogeres company, part of a leading catering group. He spent over six years with the company in Paris. Moving back to the UK in 2001 Saadi joined the MARC restaurant group as project manager. After four successful years, three restaurants were opened of which two were granted the Michelin Star recognition. From 2005-07 Saadi invested and focused on turning around a restaurant chain with three outlets in London. In 2008 he moved to the UAE, Dubai and set up Glee Hospitality Solutions by the end of 2009. Now in it is 10th year of operations, Glee Hospitality Solutions has successfully launched over 50 concepts, opened more than 60 outlets across the region. Glee Hospitality Solutions is currently working on regional and global projects.
Having graduated from Les Roches Hotel Management School in Switzerland, Abdul Kader Saadi joined the Sogeres company, part of a leading catering group. He spent over six years with the company in Paris. Moving back to the UK in 2001 Saadi joined the MARC restaurant group as project manager. After four successful years, three restaurants were opened of which two were granted the Michelin Star recognition. From 2005-07 Saadi invested and focused on turning around a restaurant chain with three outlets in London. In 2008 he moved to the UAE, Dubai and set up Glee Hospitality Solutions by the end of 2009. Now in it is 10th year of operations, Glee Hospitality Solutions has successfully launched over 50 concepts, opened more than 60 outlets across the region. Glee Hospitality Solutions is currently working on regional and global projects.
A millennial raised in a traditional Emirati neighbourhood, following his ancestors’ footsteps through determined hard work and commitment, Ahmed Kazim was capable of working his way up into a career through audit and financial advisory at Deloitte, a globally recognised firm. After finally realising his entrepreneurial streak, Kazim partnered with his colleague to provide the real chai (tea) experience and ‘add life to life’ through the birth of Project Chaiwala.
A millennial raised in a traditional Emirati neighbourhood, following his ancestors’ footsteps through determined hard work and commitment, Ahmed Kazim was capable of working his way up into a career through audit and financial advisory at Deloitte, a globally recognised firm. After finally realising his entrepreneurial streak, Kazim partnered with his colleague to provide the real chai (tea) experience and ‘add life to life’ through the birth of Project Chaiwala.
Ahmed Obaid Al Qaseer graduated from Dubai Men’s College with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Information Technology. In 2002 he started his career at The Emirates Telecommunication Corporation (Etisalat) in the Government & Corporate Segment and worked as senior sales support and senior sales executive for four years. In 2006, he joined the Al Qasba Development Authority as a business development manager and was promoted to director of business development in 2008, forming an integral part of the team that transformed Al Qasba into a popular leisure and tourism destination. Following his highly successful track record with Al Qasba, Al Qaseer played a key role in the establishment of the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), where he held the position of director of property management in 2010, being in charge of property, operations, sales and leasing. Since then he has been promoted to become Shurooq’s Chief Operating Officer in 2011, being responsible for the operational execution of all of Shurooq’s projects and destinations.
Ahmed Obaid Al Qaseer graduated from Dubai Men’s College with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Information Technology. In 2002 he started his career at The Emirates Telecommunication Corporation (Etisalat) in the Government & Corporate Segment and worked as senior sales support and senior sales executive for four years. In 2006, he joined the Al Qasba Development Authority as a business development manager and was promoted to director of business development in 2008, forming an integral part of the team that transformed Al Qasba into a popular leisure and tourism destination. Following his highly successful track record with Al Qasba, Al Qaseer played a key role in the establishment of the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), where he held the position of director of property management in 2010, being in charge of property, operations, sales and leasing. Since then he has been promoted to become Shurooq’s Chief Operating Officer in 2011, being responsible for the operational execution of all of Shurooq’s projects and destinations.
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While businesses are being digitally-enabled, the key role of people is – and will be – at the heart of every organisation. What measures are bein...
While businesses are being digitally-enabled, the key role of people is – and will be – at the heart of every organisation. What measures are being undertaken to enhance engagement, elevate customer service and upskill people to navigate the rapidly changing retail landscape? This session will explore tangible measures undertaken by retailers to spearhead transformation and drive innovation by embracing technology, innovating processes and empowering people.
Confirmed speakers:
• Ahmed Ragab, Group CEO & Executive Board Member, BRG Holding
• Alia Khan, Chairperson, Islamic Fashion Council
• Ashish Shukla, CEO, Cinépolis Gulf
• Chris Sun Baigong, President, HONOR MEA
• Kunal Kapoor, Founder, The Luxury Closet
• Mark Tesseyman, CEO, LIWA Trading Enterprises
• Mona Ataya, Founder & CEO, Mumzworld
• Naim Maadad, Chief Executive, Gates Hospitality
• Raza Beig, CEO – Splash and Director – Landmark Group
• Shames Al Hashemi, Director – Member of Board, Dual Investments
• Zaid Alqufaidi, Managing Director – Retail, ENOC
Confirmed speaker: Shant Oknayan, Group Director – Middle East & North Africa, Facebook...
Confirmed speaker: Shant Oknayan, Group Director – Middle East & North Africa, Facebook
Be it home-grown or franchised brands, there is an appetite for growth. It could be setting up new stores in carefully selected locations or entering ...
Be it home-grown or franchised brands, there is an appetite for growth. It could be setting up new stores in carefully selected locations or entering new markets offering growth opportunities. This session will bring together brands and entrepreneurs with an ambition to spread their wings further.
Confirmed speaker:
• George Kunnappally, Managing Director, Nando’s UAE
• Mouna Abbassy, Founder, IZIL Beauty
• Patrick Dorais, Director of Sales, Al Nassma Chocolate LLC
• Sajan Alex, Vice President – GCC, Tablez
• Shamin Amin, Head of Business Development, Landmark Leisure
Confirmed speaker: Isobel Abulhoul, Co-founder, Magrudy’s...
Confirmed speaker: Isobel Abulhoul, Co-founder, Magrudy’s
Retail spaces thrive in the presence of the right retail mix. And retail requires right placement to succeed. Creating an enchanting shopping ambience...
Retail spaces thrive in the presence of the right retail mix. And retail requires right placement to succeed. Creating an enchanting shopping ambience, thus, requires a strong and symbiotic tenant-landlord relationship. This session will examine how the tenantlandlord relationship has metamorphosed over the last decade, while making a few predictions on how partnership models will evolve, how leasing will be done and how retail spaces will create memorable and seamless experiences.
Confirmed speakers:
… Abdul Kader Saadi, Managing Director, Glee Hospitality Solutions
… Ahmed Al Qaseer, COO, Shurooq
… Ebraheem Al Samadi, CEO retail, Al Samadi Group
… Furqan Athar, Managing Director, McArthur + Company
… Ian Alexander Hunter, COO, BinSina & Holland & Barrett
… Khadija Al Bastaki, Executive Director, Dubai Design District
… Manish Das, Group Chief Officer – Franchise Retail, Jashanmal Group
… Marwan Eskandarani, Group Business Development Director – GCC, Kamal Osman Jamjoom Group (Moderator)
… Mohamed Galal, CEO, Dar Al Osool
High power / high impact speaking slots, covering diverse topics such as entrepreneurship, chasing one’s dreams, spearheading a culture of change, ...
High power / high impact speaking slots, covering diverse topics such as entrepreneurship, chasing
one’s dreams, spearheading a culture of change, sustainability.
Confirmed speakers:
5-5:15PM: “Creating a community” by Butheina Kazim, Founder & Managing Director, Cinema Akil with Luz Villamil, Deputy Director, Cinema Akil
5:15-5:30PM: “Bouncing back” by Tahir Shah, Founder, Moti Roti
5:30-5:45PM: “Mind over matter” by Leanne Sherlock, C-founder, Safe Space
What made a campaign popular? What rendered a store captivating? What are the forward-looking digital innovations? What’s next in online retailing? ...
What made a campaign popular? What rendered a store captivating? What are the forward-looking digital innovations? What’s next in online retailing? How can retailing be done consciously?
A giant candy vending machine, a barista handing out cups of coffee, a healthy grab-and-go counter, a hot food section serving wholesome meals within ...
A giant candy vending machine, a barista handing out cups of coffee, a healthy grab-and-go counter, a hot food section serving wholesome meals within a grocery concept? Yes, all of these and more are becoming integral elements of grocery brands, which are looking to transform the shopping experience from mundane to exciting. From design to technology, products to people – every aspect is undergoing rapid transformation to enhance customer experience. This session will bring together experts from the fields of design, grocery and technology to discuss ‘what’s NEXT’.
Confirmed speakers:
• Bernhard Heiden, Chief Strategy Officer, Schweitzer Group & Creative Director, Interstore
• Chang Sup Shin, CEO, 1004 Gourmet
• Fabrice Le Boulenger, CEO, Grandiose Supermarket
• Laurent Guitart, CEO, Circle K UAE
• Mark Lack, CEO, Urban Foods
• Peggy Li, Managing Partner, sps:affinity (Moderator)
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The omnichannel evolution in the Retail 2.0 environment is a forgone conclusion. Going beyond the retail touchpoints, it all about how the shopping ex...
The omnichannel evolution in the Retail 2.0 environment is a forgone conclusion. Going beyond the retail touchpoints, it all about how the shopping experience is rendered ‘smart’, ‘experiential’ and ‘differentiated’. Data is being looked upon as the ‘new oil’, as artificial intelligence, machine learning promise to positively disrupt the retail landscape. Blockchain is the new ‘in’. However, going back to the basics of human interactions in retail, this session is designed to encourage a dialogue on how established and emerging technology pieces can be blended with human touch to create future-proof ‘smart’ businesses.
Confirmed speakers:
• Amit Yadav, Head of Marketing, 2XL Furniture & Home Décor
• Ashish Panjabi, COO, Jacky’s Retail LLC
• Charbel Lahoud, Head of Scouting, Chalhoub Group
• Heer Lalwani, Marketing Manager, Al Ghurair Retail
• Rajiv Prasad, Chief Innovation Officer, Xpandretail
• Vijay Talreja, Co-founder and Director, Adapty
• Manoj Ganapathy, Division Manager – Visitors Management & Robotics Division, Jacky's Business Solutions
• Megha Kapoor, Head of Performance Marketing, AYM Commerce
• Milat Sayra Berirmen, Digital Innovation Director, Reem Mall
• Rajiv Prasad, Chief Innovation Officer, Xpandretail
• Sarah Jones, Founder & CEO, Sprii.com
• Vijay Talreja, Co-founder & Director, Adapty
• Xavier Anglada, Managing Director – Accenture Digital Lead, MENA and Turkey (Moderator)
The retail industry in Saudi Arabia is forecast to reach $119 billion by 2023. The 34 million-plus population in the Kingdom has seen far-reaching cha...
The retail industry in Saudi Arabia is forecast to reach $119 billion by 2023. The 34 million-plus population in the Kingdom has seen far-reaching changes – be that relaxation of foreign ownership of businesses, opening up of cinemas after a 35-year hiatus, more and more local Saudis joining the retail workforce, tech-savvy youth spearheading digital transformation. Our Saudi Arabia-focused session will bring together experts from the Kingdom for an engaging discussion on the ‘NEXT’ big changes that will have far-reaching impact on retail, leisure and entertainment, real estate and consumer behaviour.
Confirmed speakers:
• Feras Almaddah, Co-founder & Chief Marketing Officer, Zmakan
• Hathal Saad Alutaibi, CEO, Alandalus Property Co
• Jim Ragsdale, Deputy CEO – Beauty, Kamal Osman Jamjoom Group
• Kamal Osman Jamjoom Group LLCMalik Shehab, Co-founder & CEO, Golden Scent
• Mohammad IB Alawi, Chairman, Sahat Property Management Co.
How important is it to stand out? How important is it to have a sense of purpose? How important is it to plan for and be prepared for the NEXT wave of...
How important is it to stand out? How important is it to have a sense of purpose? How important is it to plan for and be prepared for the NEXT wave of transformation? This session will bring together unique brands that are slowly, yet surely, building a strong community.
Confirmed speakers:
• Ahmad Kazim, Co-founder, Project Chaiwala
• Duncan Fraser-Smith, Vice President of F&B, The First Group
• Heba Al Farazi, Founder & CEO, Coveti
• Kristine Lasam, Head of Branding and Integrated Marketing, Accenture Interactive (Moderator)
Is there a magic formula to set up and run a successful business? An idea is only the starting point. That idea needs nurturing to germinate into a co...
Is there a magic formula to set up and run a successful business? An idea is only the starting point. That idea needs nurturing to germinate into a concrete entity. It takes grit, strategic thinking and passion to build a business, irrespective of the size. In the last few years, a lot of agencies – governmental and non-governmental – have come forward to support the development of the local entrepreneurial ecosystem in the region. But a lot is yet to be done. To delve deep into finding that magic formula, the start-up conclave will bring together truly passionate entrepreneurs to discuss their experiences, pain points and successes. What’s more, the best startup concept will be felicitated with the coveted RetailME Award.
Confirmed participants:
• Armin Jamula, Co-founder & CEO, Its Her Way
• Bahaneh Dehghani Green, Founder, Happy Bubble
• Carole Moawad, Co-Founder, M’OISHÎ
• Dana Alsharif, Founder, Urban RetrEAT
• Feras Almaddah, Co-founder & Chief Marketing Officer, Zmakan
• Geetanjali Kaul, Co-founder, TurtleCard
• Ibrahim Abudyak, Co-founder, The Smash Room
• Mahmoud Gao, Founder, Mr Draper
• Rumana Nazim, Founder, The Edit
• Tania Lodi, Founder, Tania’s Teahouse
• Zubin Doshi, Founder, Scoopi Café
• Zaina Kaanan, Founder, KAVE
Jury panel:
• Katia Kachan, Managing Partner, All4Founders
• Lucy Chow, Director, Women’s Angel Investor Network
• Nadine Benchaffai, Co-founder & Managing Partner, Taqado Mexican Kitchen & Founder, Park House Café
• Shahzad Bhatti, Founder, The Co-Dubai & Share This Space
Somelahiri
+971-565454924
somelahiri@imagesretailme.com
Caitlin Aldendorf
+971 44467553, +971 509114885
caitlin@imagesretailme.com
Rupkatha Bhowmick
+971 52 981 1183
rupkatha@imagesretailme.com
Vidhi Rastogi
+91 – 9873578504
vidhirastogi@imagesgroup.in