New technologies have changed the way consumers shop today. As consumer sentiment and spending habits evolve, the dominance of digital has transformed the modern shopping experience. This week, 250 industry players will gather in Dubai for the Retail Leaders Circle MENA to analyse recent trends, share and market insights and discuss how businesses can become more agile and competitive to meet the changing consumer behaviours and expectations.
The event, taking place at the Four Seasons Resort at Jumeriah Beach on 27-28th March, is the fourth edition of the annual Retail Leaders Circle MENA Summit, hosted in partnership with the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Held under the theme of “Re-imagining Retail in Middle East: Innovation and Disruption”, the summit will see the participation of industry leaders such as The Chalhoub Group and Microsoft, while it will also provide a 360 perspective on the evolving regional and international retail landscape.
Accenture, a leading global professional services company, has found that UAE consumers are forging the way in mobile shopping. The latest study that will be published in full at The Retail Leaders Circle MENA has shown then 62% of UAE consumers have increased their use of mobiles to search for products, which compares to only 40% of users globally. Similarly, 39% of UAE residents are expected to buy more things via their smartphone in 2018, versus 27% globally.
“The industry is undergoing a massive change and retailers are beginning to realise the value of digital transformation to help them solve complex business challenges and thrive in today’s competitive environment” Said Ramy Fares, head of travel, retail and hospitality, Microsoft Middle East & Africa. “The need to deliver better customer experiences has become important like never before, and technologies such as cloud, AI, cognitive intelligence and visual analytics are deepening customer engagement to foster loyalty and retention. Our participation in this summit as the retail transformation partner, reiterates Microsoft’s commitment to offer solutions that engage and empower people, aiding retailers to understand customer behaviour and provide an intelligent platform that enables data-driven business innovation - thus, empowering them to transform shopping experiences and achieve more.”
H.E. Hamad Buamim, President and CEO of Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said: “Changing consumer expectations and the adoption of new technologies have presented pressing challenges and growth opportunities for retailers around the world. Retail Leaders Circle MENA in Dubai will provide an ideal opportunity for industry players to address important trends and issues and participate in a constructive dialogue.”
Dubai Chamber’s President and CEO added: “I am confident that Retail Leaders Circle will be a major success and support our efforts to promote Dubai as a preferred retail hub for regional and international retailers. We look forward to connecting with business leaders at the event and hearing their unique perspectives and insights on the state of the global retail market.
The event will delve into several timely issues impacting various segments of the industry. Key session include ”Venture Capital and Investing: Perspectives on the Industry”, ”What It Takes to Compete in the eCommerce Industry” and “The State of Retail Industry.” Additional speakers have been added to the agenda including Sanjay Manchanda, Chief Executive Officer of Nakheel, Rajesh Garg, Chief Operating Officer of Landmark Group and Khaled Talhouni, Managing Partner of Wamda Capital.
“The global retail industry is going through the biggest and most profound transformation in the history and the region is not an exception. It would be a mistake to separate traditional shopping from e-commerce today. Retailers must adopt their business models and embrace technology as it enables them to address the combined dynamics of the imbalance of supply and demand and provide a seamless and engaging customer experience. In the future, we will see the empowered new consumer cohort “weaponizing” the smartphone to gain unlimited and instantaneous access to whatever their heart desires wherever they are and whenever they want it,” said Panos Linardos, Chairman of Retail Leaders Circle MENA.
For more information, visit: www.retailleaderscircle.com/uae/
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About Retail Leaders Circle:
Retail Leaders Circle is a global platform created by the New York Institute of Management to provide the world’s retailers, brand owners and suppliers with the intellectual and social capital they need to succeed. Bringing together the most influential and visionary leaders shaping the agenda of the retail industry, Retail Leaders Circle hosts a series of by-invitation annual summits - in Dubai, New York and Singapore – that deliver the latest intelligence, insights and innovations in retail, to enable industry executives to stay ahead.
About Dubai Chamber
Established in 1965, the Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry is a non-profit public entity, whose mission is to represent, support and protect the interests of the business community in Dubai by creating a favourable business environment, supporting the development of business, and by promoting Dubai as an international business hub.
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© Press Release 2018
