RCM26Day 2 · 6 October 2026 · Panel
Betting Big on the Gulf: Brands, Markets and the Plans
Three takeaways
- 01Kapil Sethi said GMG, which began as a butcher, is now a food manufacturer, distributor and retailer, and its Aswaaq community malls deal was about integrating front-facing retail into that value chain.
- 02Majid Algothmi said renewing established malls that already hold community trust pays off: the Tajdeed renovation of Dhahran Mall, with easier arrivals, clearer navigation and more events, helped lift footfall by more than 20 per cent.
- 03Brands entering the GCC should assess each destination's visitors first, as Majid Algothmi advised, and work with landlords on joint promotions and aligned trading calendars, as Kapil Sethi described.
About the session
The region's retail groups are reshaping their portfolios: bringing in new brands, entering new markets, developing new formats and building their own digital businesses. Senior leaders from retail and real estate set out their plans for the years ahead, the markets and formats they are prioritising, and what a strong partnership between brand and landlord looks like in practice.
“make sure they earn a share of the heart of the shopper and the consumer, as well as earning a share of their wallets.”
From the room
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