Hit Reset.. Transforming Retail for Impact.. Retail Congress MENA 2025 returns to Dubai
Dubai, UAE September 15, 2025-Middle East Council of Shopping Centres & Retailers (MECSR) proudly presents Retail Congress MENA 2025, taking place October 13–14, 2025 at The Ritz-Carlton, DIFC, Dubai.
Master of Ceremonies
Katie Jensen
Award-winning News Anchor at Dubai One TV with more than 15 years on air. A trusted voice across business and policy, Katie is known for high-profile interviews with global leaders and cultural icons and for expertly guiding conversations on the region’s biggest stages.
Under the theme Hit Reset: Transforming Retail for Impact, the Congress brings together global retail leaders, innovators, and decision-makers to reimagine strategies, collaborate on solutions, and drive measurable change across the sector.
Attendees can expect expert speaker sessions, networking, exclusive deal-making, and a showcase of cutting-edge retail innovations. The event will conclude with the prestigious MECSR Shopping Centre & Retailer MENA Awards Gala on Day 2.
Expert speakers at RCM 2025
Michael Hirschfeld
Vice Chairman, JLL Retail Advisory Services. Michael has more than 50 years in international retail real estate, advising premium and luxury brands on high street, resort, and dense urban markets. He leads JLL cross-border development programs and has guided clients across the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, including advisory work connected to NEOM and major destinations in Qatar and the UAE.
Romeo Marquez Jr.
International speaker, bestselling author, and success coach. Romeo has delivered more than 1,000 talks and trainings to over one million people across the United States, Canada, Asia, and Europe. He equips executives, entrepreneurs, and leadership teams with high-performance tools and has appeared on stages from TEDx to Madison Square Garden.
J. Skyler (Sky) Fernandes
Powerlist 100 VC investor and Founder of VU, a global venture capital and real estate private equity platform. Sky has backed 150+ portfolio companies, including multiple unicorns such as SpaceX, OpenAI, Neuralink, and Beyond Meat, and has been involved in exits ranging from 200 million to 9 billion dollars. He previously led investments at Cleveland Avenue and founded Simon Venture Group at Simon Property Group.
Ahmed Al Khaja
Chief Executive Officer, Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment. Ahmed leads Dubai’s world-class festivals and retail activation calendar, including the Dubai Shopping Festival, aligning experiences with the emirate’s tourism vision. His leadership spans senior roles at Dubai World Trade Centre and Emirates, with a strong track record in large-scale operations and business development.
Dr. Corrie Block
Executive coach, strategy expert, and Amazon Global number one bestselling author in Management. Recognized as UAE’s number one executive coach by leading voices in leadership, Dr. Corrie blends performance neuroscience with practical leadership systems to deliver ROI-focused transformation. His client list includes Microsoft, Council of Europe, UN, Atlantis Hotels, Hilton, PepsiCo, and global government entities.
Matthew Wilkins.
Director of Learning Technology, Biz Group. Matthew helps organizations harness digital learning to drive business performance across telecoms, retail, finance, and government. He designs AI-powered upskilling, gamified learning journeys, and virtual onboarding that are simple, inspiring, and practical, building capability and sparking engagement long after the session ends.
Why You Can’t Miss It?
- Actionable Strategies from top retail visionaries.
- Unmatched Networking with senior leaders and innovators.
- Cutting-Edge Exhibition showcasing breakthrough solutions and projects.
- Collaborative Workshops to solve real industry challenges.
- Celebration of Excellence at the MENA Awards 2025 Gala.
Join us in Dubai and be part of the conversations shaping tomorrow’s retail.
Register now: retailcongressmena.com
Interested in sponsoring:
Showcase your brand to the region’s retail leaders. Contact events@mecsr.org or call +971 56 477 6536.
