WELCOME REMARKS

ON THE COVER

RETAIL CONGRESS MENA 2022 REBORN

28TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE & EXHIBITION

YOUNUS AL MULLA

MECS+R Chairman Dubai, UAE

ENG. WAIL M. BALKHAIR

MECS+R Board President Saudi Arabia

KAMEL SHABAN

CEO, SOLO MECS+R Board Vice President

ALESSANDRO GAFFURI

CEO & Founder CELS Group MECS+R Board Member

DUAIJ AL RUMAIHI

Mall Director, Bahrain Shopping Malls City Centre Bahrain MECS+R Board Member

GOGI GEORGE

GM - Development & Leasing Lulu Group International - Oman MECS+R Board Member

MOHAMMED AL QAED

Manager, Property Management SEEF Properties MECS+R Board Member

SAMAR AKKOU

Senior Manager - Leasing Nakheel Malls MECS+R Board Member

WELCOME

Sometimes you just have to die a little inside in order to be Reborn and Rise again as a Stronger and Wiser version of You! – Aagam Shah

A HUGE WELCOME TO OUR MEMBERS, SPONSORS & READERS

From the ashes and rubbles, we shall see a grandeur epic that none have ever seen before and this is what comes after 2022, a retail reborn. Like a stream flowing through the land to the ocean, we in the Middle East and North Africa, cannot be stopped in building a new shopping landscape to be admired of by the world.

Retail in our region is almost finished in its recovery and through its process, we have learned, we have strengthened, and we have persevered.

On this new RPM Special Retail Congress Edition “Retail Reborn” highlights the results of our struggles, the outcomes and the successes we have achieved through our most difficult times in the industry. To begin with, we are honored to showcase the launching of the Pre-opening Campaign for two Iconic Shopping Centres in KSA by Hamat Holding. We also bring you the latest updates on Diriyah which is set to become the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s foremost historical and lifestyle destination. Diriyah Square will definitely bring us an experiential retail in a place like no other.

Throughout the country, we also bring you the current updates for Red Sea Mall, the most iconic mall in Jeddah. We also bring to you a 728,000 square metres project called Souq7 as developed by Azad Properties. In Makkah, The Clock Towers Shopping Centre standing stronger than ever as it shifts its segmentation strategy for its visitors. And finally, all over the kingdom, the Retail People Magazine features the stories of Ezdihar as it develops the most unique commercial and residential properties.

From KSA to the rest of MENA, you can also find more insightful stories as this issue of the RPM will show no lack of it. This special edition also features a case study from Yardi and Al Futtaim Malls, newest updates on Times Square Center in Dubai and Al Hokair Group and last, but not the least, a featured article from Vindico about storefront.

Our team at the MECS+R is excited to see and connect with you in person as we celebrate our 28th Annual Retail Congress MENA Event at the Ritz Carlton DIFC. Together with the greatest minds in the industry, you will hear and learn from our Keynote Speakers namely Ted Souder, Stephen M.R. Covey and Howard Saunders. They will take you on a deep dive to what you need to know now, and in the future of retail, to operate successful businesses.

Again, we are here to honor and recognize the best-of-the-best in the Middle East & North Africa Shopping Centre and Retailer Awards. This year, we received an enormous number of submissions from different shopping centres and retail brands including solution providers in the region. We would like to thank all our judges who invest their time in reviewing all the awards submissions.

Finally, congratulations to all entrants for taking the time, effort, and investment to deliver these detailed and sophisticated submissions. You are striving for excellence and your desire to achieve exceptional results raises the standards in the retail industry in our region and globally. Best of all, we are all being recognized for our excellence on the world stage.

Congratulations to the winners of the MENA Awards 2022!

DAVID MACADAM

Chief Executive Officer MECS+R

Eng. Wail M. Balkhair

Board President MECS+R