Where retail leadership, policy, and market insight come together

Organized by the RLC Global Forum, the RLC Annual Forum is the defining gathering for the global retail industry. An invitation-only event held annually in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, it is where the most influential minds in commerce, investment, and brand leadership come together to exchange ideas, challenge assumptions, and shape the direction of the industry.

2027 Themes

The New Geography of Growth

New centers of demand, capital and opportunity are redrawing the global map and reshaping the pathways to expansion, investment and partnership.

AI is moving from capability to impact, transforming decisions, customer relationships and human potential.

Value, aspiration and identity increasingly coexist within consumers, challenging assumptions about demand, loyalty and relevance across markets.

Persistent volatility is reshaping the economics of efficiency, raising the value of flexibility, resilience and long-term investment.

Places must increasingly earn their relevance, turning experience, connection and belonging into enduring economic and cultural significance.

Growing fragmentation raises the stakes for leadership: where to place conviction, when to act and which partnerships to build.

Why we convene

Progress is advancing at different speeds and along different paths. Economic influence is shifting, AI is expanding capability, and global markets are being redrawn around new corridors and priorities. Consumers move between value and aspiration as cities gain new economic and cultural significance.
Different futures are taking shape at once and increasingly influencing one another. As they compete, intersect and learn from each other, leaders must advance ambition amid greater independence, deeper collaboration and diverging realities.
The 2027 RLC Annual Forum will bring together global leaders across markets and geographies to examine these “Uneven Futures” and the choices, partnerships and ideas that will shape what comes next.

By the Numbers

The scale and influence of the 2026 RLC Annual Forum, at a glance.

1
5
0
+
speakers
5
0
+
sessions
2,
0
0
0
+
attendees
7
5
0
+
brands & retailers

2026 RLC Annual Forum in Review

Discover the conversations, leadership perspectives and strategic insights that defined the 2026 RLC Annual Forum in one comprehensive Post-Event Report.

download the report

An exclusive event

Join a global community of senior business leaders at the 2027 RLC Annual Forum. To request an invitation, complete the form below. Every application is individually reviewed by the RLC Global Forum team to preserve the Forum’s invitation-only experience and the quality of executive dialogue.
Request an Invitation

Partner with RLC

Level up your growth, reach your target audience, and strengthen your brand among a dedicated audience of industry leaders and key decision makers.

Why attend

Join senior leaders from across retail, real estate, technology, and finance for two days of high-level access, strategic collaboration, and the partnerships that follow.

Insights

Stay updated on retail’s latest news, insights & trends with a focus on disruptive innovation. Powered by RLC Global Forum’s powerful, global community.

What CNBC logo thinks about RLC Global Forum

RLC stands as the foremost gathering
in this region, thoughtfully curated for
enterprises and visionary trailblazers.

What Saudi Gazette logo thinks about RLC Global Forum

…… the best industry event to absorb
wisdom and insights from a diverse array
of leading CEOs and policymakers.

What Alarabiya News logo thinks about RLC Global Forum

A meeting of visionaries and game-changers.
It’s truly remarkable how RLC combines rich thought
leadership with an unparalleled showcase of innovation.

FAQs

Riyadh has rapidly emerged as one of the world’s most important business destinations, driven by unprecedented investment, economic transformation and Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. As global companies reassess where future growth will come from, the Kingdom is becoming an increasingly important destination for business, investment and international partnerships.

Hosted in Riyadh, the RLC Annual Forum places global CEOs, investors, policymakers and industry leaders at the center of these conversations. Bringing together the international retail, consumer and commerce community in one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, the Forum provides direct access to the ideas, partnerships and market opportunities shaping long-term growth across the Middle East and beyond.

Designed as an invitation-only retail forum, the RLC Annual Forum brings together a carefully curated community of global CEOs, founders, board directors, investors, policymakers and senior executives from retail, consumer industries, real estate, technology and global commerce.

The result is a trusted environment where senior decision-makers exchange perspectives, strengthen strategic relationships and explore opportunities for collaboration across industries, markets and geographies.

The RLC Annual Forum explores the ideas, industries and strategic priorities shaping retail, consumer industries and global commerce. Bringing together global business and government leaders, the Forum’s agenda examines the opportunities and challenges influencing investment, innovation, consumer markets and long-term growth, providing a trusted platform for executive dialogue, strategic collaboration and informed decision-making.
Planning for each RLC Annual Forum begins shortly after the conclusion of the previous edition. Guided by the Forum’s International Advisory Board, the RLC Global Forum follows a year-round editorial process that includes advisory consultations, executive roundtables, retail CEO surveys and sector research and analysis. This process helps identify the strategic priorities, market shifts and emerging opportunities shaping retail, consumer industries and global commerce, ensuring every session reflects the issues most relevant to senior decision-makers.
The RLC Annual Forum combines plenary conversations with carefully curated experiences designed to encourage meaningful dialogue and strategic engagement. Across two days, participants move between the main stage, flagship track stages, Executive Roundtables, the Hybrid Hall, the RLC Soirée, the RLC Media Studio and private meeting spaces, creating an experience that extends well beyond a traditional retail conference.
Attendance at the RLC Annual Forum is by invitation only. Senior business leaders interested in participating may request an invitation by completing the online application form. Every application is individually reviewed by the RLC Global Forum team to preserve the Forum’s carefully curated community and the quality of executive dialogue. Approved applicants will receive a confirmation of their participation.
Confirmed attendees receive access to the official RLC Annual Forum app, offering a seamless way to navigate the agenda, connect with fellow participants, explore speakers and partners, and stay informed throughout the Forum.