2026/RiYadh
Growth Crossroads
Riyadh, February 4–5, 2026. The RLC Annual Forum once again convened senior leaders from retail, investment, real estate, and technology for two days of high-level dialogue, strategic insight, and meaningful exchange.
Set against a backdrop of economic uncertainty and structural industry change, the program explored how businesses can adapt, compete, and grow in an increasingly complex global environment. Discussions examined shifting consumer behavior, the impact of AI and digital ecosystems, evolving market dynamics, the role of luxury in a polycrisis landscape, and the rising influence of emerging regions.
Across sessions, a clear theme emerged: success will depend on strategic agility, cross-sector collaboration, and the ability to align innovation with long-term value creation.
Our distinguished speakers
Marco Bizzarri
Neeraj Teckchandani
Michael Chalhoub
Yehuda Shmidman
Georges Barakat
Stefania Lazzaroni
Carlo Capasa
Burak Çakmak
Charbel Sarkis
Miral Youssef
Luca Solca
Emanuela Prandelli
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Abdel-Salam Bdeir
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Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Alasaker
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Abdulaziz Al Rugaib
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Abdullah Al Sabban
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Abdullah Al Tamimi
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Abdullah Alrugaib
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Ahmed Boshnak
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Ahmed Alkuhlani
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Ali Shareif
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Ali Ahmed Abussaud
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Alison Rehill-Erguven
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Alvaro G. de Oteyza
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Amarpal Sandhu
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Amit Keswani
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Anas Al Qadi
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Andrew Williamson
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Andrew Joshi
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Andy Veitch
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Anna Germanos
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Anne-Laure Malauzat
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Aref Yehia
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Artin Malatjalian
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Ayman Beydoun
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Ayman Al Burti
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Bandar Al Saidi
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Ben Chasser
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Bjorn Floot
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Bobby Rajendran
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Bruno Wehbe
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Burak Çakmak
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Carlo Capasa
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Charbel Sarkis
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Charles Allen
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Cyrille Fabre
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David Wilkinson
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Debasish Mukherjee
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Deem AlBassam
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Dr Bander Hamooh
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Dr. Martyn Davies
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Dr. Solaiman Al-Twaijri
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Emanuela Prandeli, PhD
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Eng. Omar Al-Fayyadh
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Fahed Ghanim
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Farah Ismail
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Fares Akkad
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Gonzalo Brujó
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Guido Lubbers
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Hala Zgeib
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Heni Jallouli
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Hesham BaEissa
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Hisham Abdul Khalek
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Honayda Serafi
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Ingie Chalhoub
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Isabell Hendrichs
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Jacqueline Elboghdadi
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Jakob Jensen
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Jamil Malaab
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Jaspreet Chandok
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John Hadden
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Karl Nader
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Khalid Aljanahi
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Khalid Temairik
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Khatija Haque
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Khurram Iqbal
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Konrad Kolankaewicz
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Leopoldo Cavalli
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Loay Sultan
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Luca Solca
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Lynn Al Khatib
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Majed M. AlTahan
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Majid Algothmi
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Marco Parsiegla
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Marco Bizzarri
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Maria Gedeon
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Marie El Hoyek
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Mazen AlDarrab
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Mete Guney
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Michael Chalhoub
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Mina al Sheikhly
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Mina Fader
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Miral Youssef
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Mohamad ElAnsari
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Mohammad Iqbal Alawi
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Mohammed Bin Saleh Albuty
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Mohammed Dhedhi
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Moon Baz
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Muin Serhan
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Muwaffaq M Jamal
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Muzzammil Ahussain
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Nasiba Hafiz
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Neeraj Teckchandani
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Nermeen Nosseir
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Nez Gebreel
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Nicole Nitschke
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Norma Taki
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Nouran Ghannam
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Omar Kaakani
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Omar Nagadi
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Pamela Merlino
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Paul Martin
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Paul Morris
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Pauline Coquet
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Philipp Carlsson-Szlezak
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Philippe Najjar
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Pierre Malleveys
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Princess Noura bint Faisal Al Saud
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Rahul Prasad
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Rakan Al Hiary
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Rebecca Jobo
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Roy Hintze
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Saleh Almasri
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Sargun Bawa
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Saud Alsulaiman
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Sebastian Suhl
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Selvane Mohandas du Ménil
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Shane Eldstrom
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Simon Mitchell
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Simon Dyer
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Simone Dominici
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Stefania Lazzaroni
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Sujata Assomull
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Sumeet Yadav
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Sylvie Freund-Pickavance
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Tracey Rena Griffin
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Umair Ansari
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Valentin von Arnim
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Vijay Talwar
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Wajid Khan
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Wesam Al-Hasmi
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Yara Al Namlah
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Yehuda Shmidman
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Zamil Alzamil
Highlights
Agenda
Day 1
The Flow of Spend and the GCC Consumer Economy
Geoeconomics and the New Consumer Economy at Crossroads
Engineering Growth in a Pressured Market
Paul Martin, Global Retail Growth Leader – Partner & Managing Director, AlixPartners
The Changing Economics of Retail Destinations
Making Saudi Retail Competitive
AI and the New Retail Leadership Agenda
Cracking the Value Equation for Billions
From Disruption to Impact: How to Reap the Benefits of GenAI
The Business of Conversation
The Platform for Local SME Growth in Saudi
Cross-Border Commerce at a Turning Point - center
The Visitor Economy and the Making of Tomorrow’s GCC Destinations
New Ecosystems of Desire: Building Experiences Through Lifestyle Destinations
Inside the Premium Traveler Economy: Power, Spend, and the New Luxury Battleground
Mixed Use Developments of the Two Holy Cities
The New Pilgrim Consumer
Beauty, Scent and the New Codes of Desire
How AI Is Rewiring Retail Organizations
The State of Fashion
Leading Fashion in the age of AI
The New Power Play in Multibrand Retail
Selvane Mohandas du Ménil, Managing Director, IADS
Day 2
Brand Ownership in a Volatile Market
What Investors Look for Now
Agentic Commerce and the Next Wave of E-Commerce
From AI Hype to AI Infrastructure: Why Adoption Beats Innovation
The Creator Economy and the Future of Influence
The Retail CFO Agenda
The Business of Luxury
Fashion and the Balance of Power
The New Merchandising Blueprint and the Race for Relevance
The Future of Grocery Retail
The Global South’s New Luxury Influence
What Sustains Luxury Over Time
Luxury After the Boom: Relevance, Value, and Growth in a Changed World
The Next Chapter for Retail Real Estate
From Food Service to Experience and the Next F&B Growth Engine
The Changing Role of Retail in Urban Life
Homegrown Rising in the Gulf Consumer Market
The Algorithmic Consumer and the New Balance of Influence
Growth Through Localization and National Champions
Our Partners
— Strategic Partners —
— headline Partners —
— platinum Partners —
— Principal Partner —
— Opening reception Partner —
— Destination Partner —
— NextGen Retail Challenge Partners —
— Gold Partners —
— networking lunch Partner —
— knowledge Partners —
— Silver Partners —
— media Partners —
— Association Partner —
Marco Bizzari
Entrepreneur & Investor
Sylvie Freund-Pickavance
Global Strategy & Business Development Director, Value Retail
Luca Solca
Managing Director and Global Head of Luxury Goods, Bernstein
