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 solution, 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 centered 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 honoring 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.
