The Retail Summit, an annual event providing unprecedented access to hear from global retail giants on the future and movement of the retail sector, remains the ultimate industry networking event on the global calendar finished off successfully.
The highly-anticipated two-day summit brought all industry players under one roof, from international brands to local franchise partners, hosted at two iconic locations including Atlantis, The Palm and the recently-launched Atlantis, The Royal. The Retail Summit is dedicated to being the catalyst for international brands who are looking to either establish an in-market presence or sell via cross-border ecommerce to the United Arab Emirates.
The future epicenter of trade, Dubai is the fastest-growing economy in the world, making it a prime location for brands looking to expand their global footprint by setting up operations and tapping into the vast potential of the region. The Retail Summit gives local brands the opportunity to expand into international markets by meeting mentors to widen professional networks and create partnerships, allowing regional companies to reach international heights.
The top echelon of regional and internationally-renowned retailers and franchise specialists provided extensive insights into the successful concepts of international brands, in which attendees interpreted locally and rolled out in their respective and relevant markets.
Over the course of 2 days, attendees met executives from major global retailers including fashion icon Tommy Hilfiger, Michael Ward, CEO of Harrods, Kristina Blahnik, CEO of Manolo Blahnik, Jo Malone, Founder of Jo Loves, David Gandy, Founder, Wellwear, Manju Malhotra, CEO, Harvey Nichols and Tom Athron, CEO of Fortnum & Mason, to name a few.
Accompanying these retail giants were regional master franchise specialists such as Chalhoub Group, 6thStreet, Magrabi, Apparel Group, Souq.com, Amazon, Sultan Center Group, Alsulaiman Group, Papa John’s, Majid Al Futtaim, Al Tayer, Al Shaya, Azadea, Kamal Osman Jamjoon, Landmark Group, LIWA, Noon and Namshi.
The summit runs in partnership with Dubai Chambers. Commenting on the occasion, Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, President & CEO of Dubai Chambers, said: “Backed by a significant growth in the e-commerce market, Dubai continues to be a competitive destination for retailers and industry stakeholders who look to capitalize on the emirate’s strong and sustainable economic fundamentals, solid digital infrastructure and its thriving business ecosystem. We value the contribution of this industry to Dubai’s economy and its image as an international retail hub.”
“Public and private partnerships provide a critical driver for innovation and development in the retail industry. By joining forces, both sectors can leverage their respective strengths to create a more sustainable, competitive, and inclusive retail ecosystem,” he added.
Gary Thatcher, CEO and Co-Founder of The Retail Summit, shared, “I am very proud of The Retail Summit team for working so diligently as we enter the final moments before the event. We believe that the third-edition is going to be the biggest yet as we draw a big focus on both the regional and international connectivity”.
