Mo Gawdat joins Retail Congress MENA 2026 alongside regional retail leaders to explore AI, leadership and the future of work, as next-generation leadership, succession planning and shifting consumer behaviour reshape MENA’s retail and real estate sector
DUBAI, UAE, September, 2026: The Middle East Council of Shopping Centres & Retailers (MECSR) will bring together the region’s leading retail, shopping centre and real estate professionals for Retail Congress MENA 2026, taking place October 5–6 at The Ritz-Carlton, DIFC, Dubai.
Held under the theme “Level Up: Empowering Tomorrow’s Leaders Today,” this year’s congress focuses on building the next generation of leaders equipped to navigate a retail landscape being reshaped by AI, evolving consumer expectations and increasingly complex business environments. The two-day event convenes shopping centre owners and operators, retailers, developers, investors and service providers for keynotes, panels and case studies on leadership, succession planning and talent development.
David Macadam, CEO of MECSR, said: “The pace of change across our industry makes it increasingly important to develop talent and build strong leadership pipelines. We want to bring together experienced leaders and emerging talent to explore how AI, changing consumer expectations and evolving retail models are shaping the skills and leadership needed for the future.”
Mo Gawdat to Bring a New Perspective on AI and Leadership:
Mo Gawdat, former Chief Business Officer of Google X and bestselling author of Solve for Happy, headlines this year’s congress. Gawdat will explore how leaders and organisations can prepare people, not just businesses, for a future being reshaped by AI and accelerating technological change.
A Two-Day Programme of Industry Perspectives:
Day one opens with “Dubai’s Retail and Tourism Agenda: The View from the City,” featuring Mohammed Feras Arayqat, Vice President of Retail Calendar and Promotions at Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), followed by “The Human Future: AI, Happiness and How We Will Live, Work and Gather,” with Mo Gawdat and David Macadam.
Other day-one sessions include “NEXT | Leading Through the New Realities,” with Alain Bejjani and Richard Dean; “Capital and Confidence: Navigating the Region’s Next Chapter,” featuring Gogi George (Lulu International Holdings Ltd.), Shane Eldstrom (United Developers/Place Vendôme), Duaij Al Rumaihi (Seef Properties) and Tarik Abdullah Alaklan (Cenomi Centers); and “Brand Retail in the Gulf: Sustaining Growth in a More Demanding Market,” with John Hadden, CEO of Alshaya Group.
The day also features “Right in the Heart: Reinventing a Legacy Mall for Modern Retail,” with David Macadam and Mary Del Dosso, Mall Director of BurJuman and Reef Malls, Al Ghurair Group, and “AI in Retail: Levelling Up the Operation,” with Baiju Pappachan (BUZ MMC & Raffle Tech), Nevzat Yavan (ESAS Properties) and Hamdi Kulahcioglu (Akerio).
Day two opens with “The Road to Jeddah,” featuring David Macadam, Ayman Alburti (Azad Properties) and Thamer AlAboud, Chairman of the Tourism and Culture Council at Jeddah Chamber, previewing MECSR’s Saudi expansion.
Further sessions include “The Leadership Conversation: What It Takes to Lead Retail at Scale,” with Nasser Alajmi (AWJ Real Estate), Neeraj Teckchandani, CEO of Apparel Group, and Nada Ghaoui Abousaab (FIKRA Consultants); “Betting Big on the Gulf: Brands, Markets and the Plans,” with Kapil Sethi (GMG) and Majid Algothmi (RED Malls/Azad Properties); “The Holy Cities Opportunity,” featuring Konrad Kolankiewicz (Knowledge Economic City) and Mohammad Iqbal Alawi (Alsarah Holding); and “The Operator’s Playbook: Unlocking the Full Potential of Every Asset,” with Jihad Dirani (Abdullah Al Othaim Investment Co), Khaled Abuhamdeh (Al-Futtaim Group), Khalid Aljanahi (Cenomi Centers) and Rony Mourani, CEO of Mall of Qatar.
The programme closes with “The Next Wave: Retail, Dining and Destinations Reshaping the Mall,” featuring Ahmad Alkashakri (Restaurants & Cafés Owners Association) and Todd Pilgreen (Gensler), followed by a closing keynote from David Macadam.
The Middle East Council of Shopping Centres & Retailers (MECSR) has named Eleva AI, the Barcelona-based AI agent platform for physical venues, as the Official AI Partner of Retail Congress MENA 2026. Notably – As part of the partnership, Eleva AI will power the congress’s dedicated AI agent, which delegates can access through the event’s official channels. The AI agent will answer questions about the agenda and speakers, help attendees discover exhibitors, and assist with venue navigation. Please find the link below here.
Exhibition and Awards:
Alongside the conference, the Retail Congress MENA exhibition will showcase destination malls, retail concepts, real estate developments and specialist services. The programme also features the MECSR Shopping Centre & Retailer MENA Awards, recognising outstanding assets, initiatives and teams across the region.
The MECSR Awards 2026 finalists have been announced, recognising outstanding achievements across the region’s retail and shopping centre industry.
Strong Industry Support:
Retail Congress MENA 2026 is supported by leading developers, retail organisations, technology companies and industry partners from across the region.
The event is supported by four Diamond Sponsors: Cenomi Centers, Unified Real Estate Development, Azad Properties | RED Malls, and Al Othaim Investment, alongside Platinum Sponsors Knowledge Economic City Co. and Red Sea Mall. Danah Real Estate and Dalma Mall are Gold Sponsors, while Yardi Systems and Champion Group are Silver Sponsors. MRI Real Estate Software, Giftstarr, BurJuman, Kingdom Centre, and Ground Control Entertainment are Bronze Sponsors.
The event also features Awwal Events and Amusement Services International LLC as Exhibitors. AI Solutions LLC, Chris G Studios, Crystal House Sharjah, Dhamani, Artex, Eleva AI, Fairplatz and Premagic are Support Partners, while Eye of Dubai, Eye of Riyadh, Experience Abu Dhabi and Yardstick Marketing are Media Partners.
Ready to join us at Retail Congress MENA 2026 on 5-6 October? Get your All Inclusive Pass here for full access to the conference, exhibition, networking and the MECSR MENA Awards 2026.
Visiting the exhibition only? Register for your Visitor Pass with access limited to the exhibition floor on 5–6 October.
Heading to Jeddah:
Following Dubai, Retail Congress MENA will launch its inaugural Jeddah edition in December 2026, extending the “Level Up” conversation to one of the region’s most dynamic retail markets. Details will be announced in the coming weeks.
Delegate registration is open at retailcongress.me. Interested to be part of the Retail Congress MENA – Jeddah Edition? Contact MECSR at events@mecsr.org.
About MECSR:
The Middle East Council of Shopping Centres & Retailers (MECSR) is a Dubai-based non-profit trade association and the leading voice of the shopping centre and retail industry across the MENA region. MECSR was founded in 1994 and serves the retail and shopping centre community through membership, research, industry publications, networking, professional development and events. Its flagship platforms include Retail Congress MENA, the MECSR Shopping Centre & Retailer MENA Awards, Retail People Magazine, MECSR Directory, Gregory Vogt School (GVS) and the What’s Up Retail newsletter.
