The 2026 RLC Global Forum officially opened today in Riyadh, positioning Saudi Arabia at the center of the global conversation on retail transformation, investment priorities, and the future of consumer economies. Held at the Fairmont Riyadh, the two-day gathering is hosted under the theme Growth Crossroads, reflecting a moment of global uncertainty and regional opportunity where economic ambition must be matched by real-world execution.
Bringing together senior leaders from retail, technology, investment, real estate, academia, and government, the Forum is designed not only as a platform for insight, but as a space for strategic exchange and high-level collaboration. With a program built around interaction, peer-level dialogue, and practical takeaways, the Forum continues to strengthen Riyadh’s role as a convening capital for the global retail and consumer-facing industries.
A strategic opening keynote
The Forum opened with a keynote address from His Excellency Ammar Nagadi, Vice Minister of Economy and Planning, who set the tone for the event by highlighting the Kingdom’s broader transformation agenda and its ambition to lead in shaping the future of retail and consumer markets.
In his remarks, His Excellency emphasized competitiveness, sustainable growth, and cross-sector collaboration, underlining the importance of innovation and investment in enabling long-term economic progress. His keynote reinforced the strategic role Saudi Arabia aims to play in the evolving global consumer economy, as well as Riyadh’s growing importance as a meeting point between international strategy and regional realities.
Global macroeconomics meets retail reality
The first day of the 2026 RLC Global Forum featured a series of high-impact sessions exploring the shifting forces defining the next phase of retail growth. One of the day’s central discussions, Geoeconomics and the New Consumer Economy at Crossroads, featured Philipp Carlsson-Szlezak, Managing Director and Partner and Global Chief Economist at Boston Consulting Group (BCG).
His analysis focused on how global fragmentation, regional economic decision-making, and emerging geopolitical pressures are reshaping consumer demand and business competitiveness. He also examined which indicators matter most for executives navigating a volatile landscape, as retail leaders rethink growth models amid changing consumer expectations and macroeconomic headwinds.
Moving from macro trends to operational strategy, the session Engineering Growth in a Pressured Market brought together Dr. Bander Hamooh, CEO of Panda Retail Company, and John Hadden, CEO of Alshaya Group. The conversation explored how consumer-facing businesses are adapting to margin pressure, regulatory complexity, and shifting demand patterns.
John Hadden reflected on the importance of resilience and strategic clarity in today’s climate, noting: “The 2026 RLC Global Forum in Riyadh marked our inaugural event as Partner. At a time when uncertainty and volatility have become the new norms globally, sharing insights on how to turn pressure into strategic momentum and build resilience is critical. For us, that means using data to inform strategy, staying focused on our customers, and empowering our people to deliver great service.”
His remarks underscored a recurring theme of the day: that growth today is less about expansion for its own sake, and more about precision, execution, and customer-centric reinvention.
Rethinking retail destinations in the Kingdom and more
Another major focus area on Day 1 was the changing economics of retail real estate and destination development. In the session The Changing Economics of Retail Destinations, speakers explored how destination strategy is evolving beyond size and scale, toward more intentional models built around long-term value creation.
The panel featured Alison Rehill-Erguven, CEO of Cenomi Centers; Ayman Mohammed Al Burti, CEO of Azad Properties; Abdullah Al Tamimi, CEO of Hamat Holding; and Georges Barakat, Head of Market & Commercial Strategy – Retail, Local Real Estate Investment Division at the Public Investment Fund (PIF). Together, they examined the decisions shaping the Kingdom’s retail landscape and how developers are responding to changing consumer behaviors and new expectations for lifestyle-led destinations.
Artificial intelligence also took center stage, with multiple sessions highlighting AI’s role as a transformative tool across the retail value chain. In a one-on-one discussion, Charbel Sarkis, Regional Director – MENA at Google, spoke with Michael Chalhoub, CEO of Chalhoub Group, about how leaders are deploying intelligence, managing acceleration, and preserving brand differentiation in a rapidly shifting market.
Michael Chalhoub emphasized the strategic potential of AI while reinforcing the importance of human value in luxury retail: “One topic that is particularly important to us is artificial intelligence, not as a replacement for the human dimension of luxury, but as a way to enhance it. At Chalhoub Group, we see AI as a strategic enabler of Vision 2033, helping us better understand our customers, strengthen partnerships, and deliver experiences that are more personal, seamless, and culturally relevant across the region.”
As consumers increasingly seek immersion, meaning, and emotional connection, the Forum also explored how lifestyle destinations are becoming experience-driven ecosystems. In New Ecosystems of Desire: Building Experiences Through Lifestyle Destinations, Shane Eldstrom, CEO of United Developers (Qatar), Sylvie Freund-Pickavance, Strategy and Business Development Director at Value Retail, and Rahul Prasad, Managing Director at Pike Preston Partners, examined how retail, culture, storytelling, and design converge to create long-term engagement and relevance.
Looking ahead to Day 2
Beyond the main stage, the 2026 RLC Global Forum featured roundtables, workshops, and track sessions designed for deeper discussion and practical insight. Participants now look ahead to Day 2, when the top three teams of the NextGen Retail Challenge will be announced. This joint initiative between RLC Global Forum, the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University (PNU), and Monsha’at aims to empower emerging Saudi talent through mentorship, capability-building, and global retail exposure.
As the Forum continues in Riyadh, one message is clear: at this Growth Crossroads, the future of retail will be shaped by those who can translate ambition into execution.
