The Shopping Centre & Retailer MENA Awards 2026
Presented on 6 October 2026 at The Ritz-Carlton, DIFC, Dubai, closing RCM26. Every entry was scored against a published standard by an independent jury of industry leaders.
- Awards
- 136
- Gold
- 37
- Silver
- 99
- Countries
- 9
11 award titles · 33 categories · 23 independent jurors · How entries are judged
Entries for the 2027 awards will open here. Register interest in entering to be told first.
The winners
Gold and Silver are awarded against a standard, not ranked against each other, so a category can have several of each. The two individual awards name winners rather than Gold or Silver. Open an award to see its winners, then select an entry to see its photo, video and description.
Search all 136 winners by company or entry title.
Retail Group Excellence Award
1 Gold · 1 Silver
Gold
A customer-centric transformation repositioned Al Othaim Life as one of Saudi Arabia's leading retail groups, delivering higher sales, stronger customer loyalty, and improved profitability. The initiative combined strategic innovation with measurable commercial impact.
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Silver
Ground Control is where fun, excitement and unforgettable memories come together. Enjoy state-of-the-art bowling, thrilling arcade and interactive games, and social experiences for all ages. Whether with family or friends, there’s always something exciting to play, compete and enjoy.
Retail Brand Excellence Award
1 Gold · 4 Silver
Homegrown
Gold
The loyalty program at Al Mamlaka Social Dining rewards over 60,000 registered members through a points-based system built for the region's largest premium dining destination, home to 21 world cuisines, Welcoming around 4,000 guests daily.
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Homegrown
Silver
Over 27 years, AlAmer Markets has evolved from a local retailer into an integrated destination offering value, variety, and an enhanced shopping experience. Its growth reflects expanded branches, stronger operations, and improved customer experience while preserving its local roots and identity.
Silver
Ground Control Dubai Festival City brings families and friends together through bowling, arcade gaming and social entertainment. A vibrant, repeatable experience where guests play, compete, celebrate and create memorable moments together.
Expansion
Silver
HARIBO Happy World at Dubai Festival City transforms one of the world’s most recognizable confectionery brands into a colorful, immersive retail destination where product discovery, brand storytelling and entertainment come together.
Silver
Play-Doh Fun Factory Doha at Msheireb Galleria transforms one of the world’s most recognized creative-play brands into an immersive destination where children can create, explore, move and learn through play.
Service Excellence Award
8 Silver
AI & Digital Integration
Silver
Setric is Esas Properties' AI platform for shopping malls and retailers. It unifies visitor, revenue and lease data to deliver forecasts, risk alerts and revenue-cost optimization through a single prompt, cutting costs by up to 10-15% and driving stronger revenue management.
Silver
Esas Properties deployed Visitify, an integrated AI platform that turns shopping-centre visitor data into real-time decisions. Teams now forecast footfall, flag anomalies and see tenant-revenue impact in seconds, in four languages, cutting reporting from hours to near-instant.
Customer Engagement & Loyalty Platforms
Silver
Aldar embedded Giftify's third-party gift card infrastructure directly into Live Aldar, its super app, via API. Customers can buy, send and spend digital gift cards across Aldar's merchant network within the native Live Aldar experience, and Darna Rewards members can redeem points into a gift card.
Silver
Raffletech and RaffleKlub turn one-off retail promotions into lasting customer relationships. The integrated platform helps malls and retailers acquire, verify, reward and re-engage shoppers through digital campaigns, loyalty journeys, customer data and measurable insights.
Activations & Experiential Services
Silver
Christmas in Wonderland transformed the mall into an immersive festive destination, creating a memorable Christmas experience for visitors. HYPE brought the creative vision to life through integrated design, fabrication, and execution, delivering an engaging retail experience designed to attract visitors and strengthen the mall’s seasonal appeal.
Design & Environment
Silver
MuchMore combines Italian expertise in architecture, engineering, landscape, and interior design to create sustainable, cost-efficient spaces and innovation. Its projects use smart, efficient solutions to create lasting value and enhance the user experience.
Customer Intelligence & Analytics
Silver
AI Mall Intelligence Solution by Xpandretail transformed customer journey visibility for Nad Al Sheba Mall by Dubai Retail. Using advanced AI-powered visitor analytics, the solution enabled the mall management team to understand visitor movement, dwell time, zone performance, and customer behaviour.
Property & Retail Operations Software
Silver
Yardi's Retail Suite unifies leasing, finance, maintenance, procurement and tenant engagement for major GCC mall operators, cutting maintenance response by up to 80%, leasing cycles by up to 40%, and reporting time by up to 97%, on one connected platform.
NOI Enhancement Award
2 Gold · 2 Silver
Gold
Murouj transformed underutilized outdoor space into a curated seasonal specialty leasing destination, unlocking a new revenue stream, enriching Kuwait's largest outdoor lifestyle district, and proving commercial activation can balance profitability with community engagement.
Gold
Oasis Mall Dubai increased Net Operating Income by 170%, from AED 3.0 million to AED 8.1 million, without adding a single square foot. By optimising 34,522 sq.ft. of space, introducing digital paid parking, and generating solar energy, the mall unlocked AED 6.4 million in annual revenue and savings.
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Silver
A Better Journey. A Better Bottom Line. Dalma Mall partnered with Parkonic to transform parking into a seamless, ticketless, Salik-linked customer journey, protecting space for genuine shoppers, improving traffic flow and creating a recurring NOI stream through a zero-capex revenue-share model.
Silver
Souq7 turned a Saudi first World Cup fan experience into a new commercial operating model. Seven partners funded 41.6% of delivered value, transforming sponsorship into verified NOI protection and creating a repeatable currency for every major event.
Tenant Partnership Award
4 Gold · 2 Silver
Tenant Innovation
Gold
Dubai Gold District turned tenant partnership into retail impact, pairing the nationwide Proud of UAE initiative with Emirates Minting Factory’s expertise. An integrated campaign amplified the partnership through PR, digital and influencers, driving earned coverage and an early sell-out.
Anchor Tenant Performance
Gold
“Some anchors fill space. The great ones shape destinations.” Centrepoint has grown with Dalma Mall, weathered changing retail cycles, reinvented itself and returned stronger. Today, it stands as a trusted family destination and a powerful example of what long-term partnership can achieve.
Best New Tenant Launch
Gold
Souq7 and Allo Beirut put more than SAR 300,000 of combined launch and partnership value behind a new opening that drove 51% footfall growth, then extended the relationship into sponsored pilgrim hospitality only weeks later.
Gold
Opening on the same day Souq7's World Cup programme began, Nando's received a protected launch lane across creators, content, paid and physical media while activating its own brand audience. The 15 day window delivered 141% footfall growth and 13.9M impressions.
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Tenant Innovation
Silver
When banking went digital, the branch became more human. Dalma Mall and Emirates NBD reimagined the physical bank as an accessible, self-service-led, privacy-conscious and hospitality-inspired destination, where technology handles transactions and people create the experience.
Silver
Dhahran Mall and SACO made football knowledge spendable. A World Cup Q&A awarded more than 100 fans SAR 1,000 SACO vouchers, putting over SAR 100,000 of retail value inside the fan experience and turning participation into shopping.
Retail Store Design Award
3 Gold · 13 Silver
Entertainment Centres
Gold
Play-Doh Fun Factory brings the iconic brand to life through a colorful, immersive design where creativity and imagination shape every detail. Interactive play, vibrant spaces and distinctive retail come together to create a memorable destination for children and families.
Fashion Specialty
Gold
LC Waikiki Rabwa set a new benchmark for fashion retail design in Saudi Arabia, combining intelligent space planning, immersive customer experiences, and strong brand identity. The project delivered measurable business results while creating a destination customers wanted to return to.
Kiosk
Gold
Reef Perfumes turns kiosk retail into retail theatre. A sculptural fragrance pavilion with 360° presence, curated display and sensory discovery transforms every approach into an invitation, and every pause into the possibility of purchase.
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Entertainment Centres
Silver
Smarvy Spot is an emerging family entertainment destination redefining leisure in Al Ahsa. Combining mechanical rides, arcade games, trampolines, soft play, climbing and immersive experiences, it has quickly become a vibrant destination for families, creating memorable moments for all ages.
Silver
Groundcontrol at Kingdom Centre Riyadh reimagines social entertainment across four separate units, connected by the mall’s F&B and shared seating to create one dynamic social hub combining entertainment, dining and socializing.
Silver
Groundcontrol Msheireb is a 2,300 sqm social entertainment hub where gaming, dining and social interaction come together as one connected experience. Rather than creating a collection of separate attractions .
Silver
Groundcontrol at The Village is envisioned as a 2,100 sqm social entertainment hub where gaming, food and social interaction come together in one connected experience.
Silver
HARIBO Happy World at Panorama Mall Riyadh is conceived as a complete branded destination where retail, food and family entertainment come together within one colorful HARIBO world
Silver
Miraculous Adventures at Souq 7 Jeddah is conceived as a 3,250 sqm immersive family entertainment destination where the characters, stories and adventures of Miraculous are transformed into a physical world of play. With a significantly larger footprint.
Silver
Miraculous Adventures at Mall of Qatar is conceived as a 1,590 sqm immersive family entertainment destination where the world of Miraculous is transformed from screen to space.
Silver
NERF at Msheireb Qatar is conceived as a 1,700 sqm high-energy action and entertainment hub, transforming the iconic NERF brand from a product into a fully immersive physical experience
Silver
Slimooo Panorama transforms the brand’s playful, fluid personality into a 600 sqm immersive entertainment world, where creativity, movement and social interaction flow together. Rather than separate attractions, the entire venue becomes one colorful, connected Slimooo experience.
Fashion Specialty
Silver
A new benchmark for ALDO retail in Saudi Arabia with Al Othaim Life, Red Sea Mall store transforms global brand identity into a bold, contemporary fashion experience. Designed around a seamless customer flow, the space brings international retail standards to the heart of Jeddah.
Non-Fashion Specialty
Silver
X-Beauty Dalma Mall reimagines beauty retail as a 1,818 sqm flagship journey where discovery, trial, service & lifestyle converge. Free-flow zoning, sensory design & embedded experiences turn product browsing into active participation.
Pop-up Store
Silver
Croissant & Danish Bakery transforms a compact pop-up into a complete bakery experience, integrating preparation, product display and service within one efficient footprint. Pastel tones, warm lighting and an open frontage bring freshness, visibility and character to the format.
Luxury
Silver
Imagine stepping into a sunlit desert courtyard, a space born in the UAE where Emirati warmth meets effortless luxury. "Al Fina Fi Wasat Al Sahra" a Dusoul Store Concept, turns discovering precious jewels into a personal journey, wrapping you in rich heritage and heartfelt hospitality at every turn.
Design & Development Award
5 Gold · 3 Silver
New Development
Gold
Multaqa AlMadinah is Madinah’s next-generation lifestyle destination, bringing together retail, hospitality, branded residences, dining and public spaces within the Haram boundary. A walkable destination rooted in Madinah’s identity, designed for residents and visitors.
Renovation / Expansion
Gold
BurJuman Mall's transformation reimagined 75,000+ sqm of Dubai's 1991 landmark around the needs of its customers, not expansion. Since 2023, redesigned circulation, new spaces, refreshed retail & digital services have reshaped the mall and woven it into customers' everyday lives.
Gold
Indoor dining garden that makes Dubai’s outdoors possible year-round. The Food Pavilion transformed a confined Level 3 restaurant zone by removing fountains and repurposing the mezzanines, opening sightlines, and creating naturally lit, green terraces around a culturally relevant casual dining mix
Gold
The transformation of Kingdom Centre Mall repositions one of Riyadh's most recognizable landmarks as a contemporary luxury retail, leisure, and cultural environment that reflects both Saudi Arabia's heritage and its future ambitions.
Gold
Oasis Mall Dubai unlocked 34,522 sqft. of retail space without expansion by right-sizing four anchors and creating a high-yield corridor. The transformation generates AED 3.89M annual revenue for the mall, AED 2.92M rental savings for anchors and lifts productivity by 38.8%, with zero disruption.
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New Development
Silver
Westfield Jeddah is a new flagship retail and lifestyle project on King Abdulaziz Road, combining a 20,000 sqm luxury district, expansive skylight, broad circulation, three dining zones and planned premium guest services.
Visionary Concepts
Silver
Barakah is a transformative mixed-use destination in Makkah anchored by a 78,688 sqm regional mall operated by Cenomi Centers, two hotels, 12 residential towers, and a mosque. Designed to serve residents, hotel visitors, off-site catchments, and pilgrims with a world-class integrated experience.
Multi-Phase Developments
Silver
Bellevue is a mega lifestyle center that combines the feel and atmosphere of an outdoor destination-through its architecture, landscaping, and water features-with the comfort of an indoor, air-conditioned environment under a skylight ceiling.
Sustainability Excellence Award
4 Gold · 5 Silver
Community & Social Impact
Gold
We didn’t support small businesses... We helped build them. Through EEBIS – Emerging Emirati Business Incubation Strategy, Dalma Mall turned retail space into opportunity, mentorship and market access, earning the UAE’s highest federal CSR recognition: the Majra Platinum Impact Seal 2025–2027.
Gold
Make a Splash for a Cause united Place Vendôme with Education Above All, founded by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, turning 20,000 rubber ducks into a national movement that raised QAR 500,000 to support children’s access to education.
Reporting & Governance
Gold
Esas Properties' 2025 Sustainability Report transforms portfolio-wide ESG data into a transparent, Board-governed reporting framework. Prepared with reference to GRI and aligned with TSRS and IFRS S1/S2, it combines double materiality, measurable targets and Deloitte limited assurance.
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Community & Social Impact
Silver
Al Jaber Optical's Eye Care Campaign provided life-changing vision care to students at National Charity School Dubai. By identifying undiagnosed vision problems and providing prescription eyewear, the initiative improved students' confidence, learning, and overall educational experience.
Silver
Red Sea Mall achieved the Diamond Level (99.5%), ranking first in Saudi Arabia and becoming the only shopping mall in Jeddah recognized under the Ministry of Health's Health-Enhancing Mall Initiative, accredited by the World Health Organization.
Retail Operations
Silver
Oasis Mall Dubai transformed a fully operational retail asset into a lower-carbon one without closing for a single trading day. Six integrated initiatives now avoid up to 1,240 tonnes of CO₂e annually while delivering more than AED 469,000 in energy savings.
Silver
Reem Mall installed the UAE's largest single-site EV charging network: 44 Loop chargers across three parking levels. In 12 months it delivered 277,541 kWh, avoided 235 tonnes of net CO2, displaced 149,872 litres of petrol and enabled 1.67 million electric kilometres.
Silver
Souq7 turned a disposable water bottle into the price of participation. Visitors handed over plastic to unlock a personalised clay Fakhara, transforming a Ramadan craft experience into a visible ritual of environmental action, Saudi heritage and local creativity.
Marketing Excellence Award
14 Gold · 61 Silver
Community Engagement & Impact
Gold
Cenomi Centres and Zahra mobilised shoppers and employees across Saudi Arabia for breast cancer awareness. The October campaign paired national pink visibility and owned-media reach with education, race support and 150 early-screening vouchers, turning awareness into preventive action.
Gold
In a moment when hearts needed reassurance, Wardat Aman turned a rose into a message: you are safe, you belong, you are home. Through roses, flags & community march, Dalma Mall & Yas Volunteer Team turned #WeAreAllEmirati into a living expression of gratitude, unity, belonging & love for this nation.
Gold
LuckyOne Mall's Aziz Tabba Memorial Scrabble Ranking Championship united 225 players aged between 6 - 69 years from diverse backgrounds and skill levels, reaching 480,000+ people online and achieving 32.6% repeat participation, proving niche sports can build lasting, inclusive community platforms.
Gold
Born amid regional conflict and uncertainty, Rooted in Resilience was Place Vendôme’s tribute to Qatar’s strength, stability and wise leadership. Using the Sidra Tree, a symbol of endurance, protection, unity and hope, it turned national gratitude into a living community legacy.
Gold
Reem Mall turned a traditionally quiet retail month into its strongest January on record. A 30-day Emirati farmers' market built with 8 homegrown producers and 4 government partners lifted mall footfall 31%, central atrium footfall 46%, sales 46% year on year, and sold 33,500+ local products.
Customer Experience
Gold
Red Sea Mall celebrated Saudi National Day 95 with a three-day destination-wide experience featuring live performances, cultural entertainment, tenant activations, competitions, giveaways, and interactive photo experiences, welcoming 95,000 visitors and generating over 2 million social media views.
Gold
Reem Mall gated a 39-day interactive football arena behind a minimum AED 200 purchase, turning transactions into participation. 6,885 participants, +19% mall footfall, spend per registered guest +107% above the mall average, a 4.93/5 experience rating and a Net Promoter Score of +97.
Strategic Communications
Gold
Dubai Gold District unified a fragmented trade ecosystem into one global proposition, anchored by the world’s first Gold Street, strengthening Dubai’s gold and jewellery global position while supporting 99% commercial occupancy, 15% YoY retail leasing growth and 150% growth in investment enquiries.
Gold
QNB Triple Life Rewards brought Place Vendôme and Qatar National Bank together in a strategic loyalty partnership built around a shared premium audience. The campaign connected retail, rewards & destination experience, creating a seamless collaboration between two of Qatar’s most recognised brands.
Integrated Marketing
Gold
Cenomi Centers worked with Spacetoon to bring Marvel, Miraculous, Shaun the Sheep, Mr. Bean, and L.O.L. Surprise! character activations to ten malls across Saudi Arabia this summer, driving a 20.0% year-over-year footfall increase alongside 81.5 million social impressions.
Gold
Waterfront Market transformed from a traditional fresh-food market into a vibrant destination for food, families, culture and community. An integrated marketing strategy created new reasons to visit, new audiences to engage and a new chapter for one of Dubai's most authentic destinations.
Sales Promotions
Gold
Place Vendôme’s signature 24-Hour Sale returned in 2025, turning a global retail moment into a distinctive destination experience. Combining 24-hour trading, up to 80% off and high-value rewards, it united retailers and shoppers in one of the mall’s most powerful retail initiatives.
Gold
Dhahran Mall turned football knowledge into spending power. A live World Cup Q&A gave 100+ fans SAR 1,000 SACO vouchers, while surveyed purchase incidence rose from 90.3% pre FIFA to 98.8%.
Public Relations
Gold
Souq7 placed media at the heart of its Grand Opening. Advance engagement, privileged access, guided tours, leadership interviews and government endorsement transformed the launch into a credible story of commerce, culture and progress, generating SAR 2.25 million in perceived media value.
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Community Engagement & Impact
Silver
Ajmal Perfumes collaborated with the Emirati film Baab to create an immersive cinema experience by integrating fragrance into the film's narrative and premiere. Scent-infused wristbands and experiential activations transformed traditional product placement into meaningful cultural storytelling.
Silver
THE MARKET transformed Al Mouj Walk into a recurring Saturday destination, generating 132,784 visits, a 33% YoY increase, and a 10% increase in tenant sales. Supported by Bank Sohar, the campaign generated OMR 66,842 in income and connected customers, tenants and local entrepreneurs.
Silver
Cenomi Centers and Makkah Municipality turned their strategic agreement into support for Hajj guests, with teams and volunteers distributing 10,000 co-branded bags across the Holy Sites, backed by SAR 200K in distribution investment and Arabic and English media coverage.
Silver
Thousands of feet. One rhythm. One community. Dalma Mall turned its climate-controlled corridors into a summer wellness stage where 2,783 runners of all ages moved across three indoor races, creating a shared current of health, inclusion and positive energy that travelled far beyond the finish line.
Silver
Children of Determination & Little Merchants Bazaar at Oasis Mall Dubai empowers children of all abilities to become entrepreneurs. In a sensory-friendly marketplace, they run stalls, sell products, handle transactions, and build confidence, business, and social skills.
Silver
Let’s Move for Education brought Place Vendôme, Education Above All and the International Olympic Committee together to turn physical movement into collective purpose, transforming the mall into a community walking experience championing education, wellbeing and social impact.
Silver
Place Vendôme and the "State of Qatar International Media Office" brought Match for Hope 2026 beyond the stadium through a free eight-day fan festival promoting its humanitarian mission, connecting global creators with fans, and supporting the cause through merchandise, sport and entertainment.
Silver
Dhahran Mall turned Al Sharqiyah International Race into a health, wellbeing and inclusion platform inside the mall, opening race week to runners, people with mobility disabilities, employees and families through participation, access and a pathway to continue beyond race day.
Silver
Dhahran Mall transformed Breast Cancer Awareness Month into Stronger Together, a community health platform where women could move from awareness to action through free screening access, trusted medical guidance, survivor voices, emotional support, wellbeing and shared participation.
Silver
Dhahran Mall turned Ramadan into a living community ritual by giving young Qur’an reciters the mall’s Athan, then building heritage, giving and local partnerships around a simple idea: Where Hearts Gather should be something people can hear and feel.
Silver
Heart Beats is an interactive health awareness campaign at Red Sea Mall. Through engaging activities, expert guidance, and family-friendly experiences, it inspires visitors to make healthier food choices and adopt better lifestyle habits in a fun and educational way.
Silver
Jeddah knows Ramadan Iftars. Under the patronage of His Highness Prince Saud bin Abdullah bin Jalawi, Governor of Jeddah, Souq7 created a distinctive annual platform uniting 450+ orphans and families, two charities and tenants contributing SAR 50,000+ in a fully sponsored family experience.
Silver
Souq7 turned a Guinness World Records achievement into a shared community legacy, inviting more than 300 children from Al Bir Society Jeddah to help make history, then giving them record footballs signed by Saudi football stars as souvenirs of a day built around participation and belonging.
Silver
Souq7 turned Saudi National Day into an act of citizenship, gathering the Jeddah community to plant trees, exhibit talent and build a shared portrait, lifting footfall 43.2% and engaging 5,000 residents in a celebration the community built, not watched.
Silver
Little Explorers turns Waterfront Market into a living classroom, teaching children about food, health, culture and sustainability. From no school visits in 2023, the programme has grown into a strong education and footfall platform, welcoming 4,000+ students in the last 12 months.
Customer Experience
Silver
AlAmer Mall transformed the Eid customer journey through a Value Circulation strategy, connecting entertainment with mall tenants to deliver integrated family experiences combining entertainment, dining, rewards, gifts, and activities while encouraging cross-tenant engagement.
Silver
BurJuman launched Right in the Heart, a brand story and tagline, alongside a 12-stop experiential journey through the redesigned mall to showcase its transformation. QR-enabled storytelling revealed what changed & nostalgia-led installations made the transformation emotionally meaningful to guests
Silver
Dalma Mall transformed Eid celebrations into a memorable family experience through “Giggles & Games Eid Carnival: The Mascot Mania Experience.” Featuring a fleet of mascots across the mall, the activation created joyful moments, deepened family engagement, and elevated the festive customer journey.
Silver
READY. SET. SHOP! Dalma Mall turned a normal family shopping trip into a race against time, full of speed, strategy, chaos & unforgettable emotion. With 8,931 families wanting in, the challenge proved one thing loud: real shopping is not dead, it is alive, thrilling & meant to be experienced together.
Silver
TAJDEED turned live redevelopment into customer continuity. Bilingual wayfinding, story tunnels, safety messaging and live feedback kept the mall trading, supporting 5% YTD sales growth, zero works-related tenant exits and 80% good/excellent safety and comfort.
Silver
Heart Beats is an interactive health awareness campaign at Red Sea Mall. Through engaging activities, expert guidance, and family-friendly experiences, it inspires visitors to make healthier food choices and adopt better lifestyle habits in a fun and educational way.
Silver
A free, interactive passport experience at Waterfront Market inviting children to explore fish stalls, produce aisles and spice corners while collecting stamps, meeting traders and discovering how Dubai's market heritage connects land and sea.
Strategic Communications
Silver
ALDO founder Mr. Aldo Bin Sadun's first Saudi visit showcased the Kingdom's culture through authentic hospitality and local experiences, creating a strategic communications campaign that strengthened emotional connections and reinforced Al Othaim Life as ALDO's regional partner.
Silver
Everything for Everyone aligned seven zones, tenants and public stakeholders around one launch. Store opening momentum rose 133.33 percent in December and continued from January onward, while visits grew 97.75 percent year on year and 37.46 percent month on month.
Experiential Marketing
Silver
Jhilmil Diwali at BurJuman Mall turned the mall into a living Festival of Lights. From 1–20 Oct 2025, the Main Atrium hosted Baithaks, Game Nights, and roaming Bhangra/Garba/Dhol performances, plus a 30-vendor Bazaar and a 20+ tenant window contest: 4,787 attendees, +20% footfall vs 2025 & much more.
Silver
In a city where snowy winter never arrives, BurJuman built one customers could step into: a 38-day participatory Christmas of snowfall, craft, performance and reward. December footfall reached 2.246M, up 8% year-on-year, and 95% of surveyed customers would recommend the campaign.
Silver
Cenomi transformed its Esports World Cup 2025 sponsorship into an immersive gaming experience, bringing Cenomi Plus to life through interactive activations, competitions and digital engagement while connecting the brand with Saudi Arabia’s fast-growing gaming community.
Silver
Cenomi Centers activated FIFA World Cup 2026 Fan Zones across three malls in Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam, showing all 104 matches. Footfall grew 20.1% year-over-year, with the clearest gains landing precisely at the Fan Zone entrances and on major match days.
Silver
We Watched It. We Talked About it. At Dalma Mall, We Lived it. Squad Games transformed a viral phenomenon into a pulse-racing arena of five immersive challenges, where 4,623 participants stepped off the sidelines to compete, connect & create memories, turning a mall visit into a story worth retelling.
Silver
Mall of Muscat brought FIFA World Cup 2026 to life through The Live Arena, a month-long celebration with beIN SPORTS featuring live match screenings, fan experiences and community collaborations that brought people together and reinforced the mall as a vibrant lifestyle destination.
Silver
Adventure Bay came alive at Dhahran Mall. Children moved from watching PAW Patrol to joining the mission through live shows, rescue challenges and character encounters, turning a familiar IP into an immersive family experience.
Silver
Souq7 moved the beginning of the guest experience to Makkah, creating one hosted journey for Algerian pilgrims through transport, onboard hospitality, Jeddah discovery, dining, entertainment and shopping, all designed as a seamless expression of Saudi welcome.
Silver
Souq7 replaced the passive National Day format of concerts and parades with an experience visitors physically entered, planting, creating, performing and building a shared portrait across seven zones, lifting footfall 43.2% and generating 5,000 direct interactions.
Silver
Souq7 transformed Ramadan from a date on the calendar into a place people could inhabit, turning four zones into a 28 day nighttime world where visitors became its makers through personalised craft, live cultural talent, moon rituals, family play, food and shared discovery.
Silver
Winter Village at The Avenues Bahrain brings families together with vibrant F&B kiosks, live entertainment, and carnival games across Phases 1 and 2. The event creates an engaging seasonal experience that encourages participation and enhances the overall visitor journey.
Silver
Dubai’s largest food market became the ingredient, stage & reason to visit. Waterfront Market & GOAT burgers turned trader-sourced hammour into a 17-day limited-edition Hammour Sando experience, driving 6.5M views and making Waterfront Market GOAT’s highest-performing location for the hero products.
Integrated Marketing
Silver
BurJuman Mall was familiar but overlooked. After a multi-year transformation, its "Right in the Heart" campaign spanned paid, earned, owned and experiential channels to relaunch it as Dubai reimagined delivering 19.6M impressions, 5.7M reach, 35.1K interactions and 795 new followers.
Silver
Cenomi Centers launched Saudi Arabia’s first retail-accessible corporate SAR Sukuk. Through a fully integrated marketing strategy across 360 channels TV, digital, social, influencers, in-mall media, OOH and PR the campaign delivered exceptional awareness, engagement and investor participation.
Silver
Cenomi transformed its Riyadh Fashion Week partnership into an integrated launch platform for Westfield Riyadh, connecting runway experiences, landmark OOH, aviation media, PR, digital content and immersive activations to position the destination as Saudi Arabia’s new home of fashion.
Silver
What if winter didn’t just arrive, but took over? Dalma Mall turned the season into a living story, where mischievous Elves, legendary icons, live spectacle, retail rewards, influencers and digital buzz came together, transforming every touchpoint and every visit into a shared moment of magic.
Silver
Mall of Qatar united Pop Legend Live, the Look-Alike Competition, Mega Sale and Shop Safe & Win Big in one campaign. Turning entertainment into participation and retail urgency, it increased May footfall and sales while generating new leads and 9,768 participants.
Silver
Dhahran Mall turned Golden Sponsorship of Al Sharqiyah International Race into one connected journey across the mall, community, employees, tenants, digital, CRM and PR, bringing around 6,000 runner visits into the destination and extending participation beyond race day.
Silver
Souq7's Grand Opening introduced a major new destination in southeast Jeddah. One promise united media, PR, creators, partnerships and immersive experiences, giving people across the city compelling reasons to discover Souq7, experience its seven zones and return.
Silver
Souq7 turned the World Cup into a living journey where Saudi hospitality met AI powered play, live football and connected storytelling, inviting fans to arrive as spectators and become players, creators and storytellers in Jeddah's new shared ritual.
Sales Promotions
Silver
Sparkling Diwali turned BurJuman's most culturally important retail period into a conversion engine. Spend AED 250 anywhere in the mall, enter a digital raffle for a SOUEAST S06 Luxury Car worth AED 109,000. Over 27 days, qualifying sales hit AED 1,968,475, a 269% uplift in daily average sales.
Silver
The Grand Fest transformed LuckyOne Mall's winter festival into a high-value retail experience, nearly quadrupling sales despite 4 fewer days, proving depth of spend outperforms breadth of reach. High-value shoppers were rewarded grandly, while 60.06% of budget was saved via strategic partnerships
Silver
Place Vendôme’s Back to School 2025 turned a seasonal shopping need into a destination-wide Spend & Win platform. By linking back-to-school purchases to the chance to win a year’s school fees, it gave parents a highly relevant reason to choose Place Vendôme for the full school-year journey.
Silver
Place Vendôme’s Start the Year 5X Better transformed New Year optimism into a destination-wide Spend & Win campaign. With every QAR 500 spend unlocking a chance to win a BMW X5, the initiative united shopping, dining and entertainment under one compelling retail proposition.
Silver
Reem Mall's Infinite Possibilities campaign delivered record sales while regional conflict cut inbound travel. A community-driven approach resulted in a +22% rise in mall footfall and registered spend grew 677% against a comparable 2025 promotion. This was achieved 11.6% under budget.
Silver
Souq7 built a student only sales platform around exclusive tenant offers, using its University District location and owned digital channels to turn weekday relevance into measurable demand, generating 6,646 offer booklet downloads at zero campaign spend.
Silver
Mangolicious transformed mango season into a gamified sales platform. An AED 50 spend unlocked instant rewards, Guess & Win, tastings and digital participation, generating AED 1.08M in recorded sales from 2,801 participants in just 17 days.
Digital-First & Influencer
Silver
Ramadan is crowded with promotions. Dalma Mall made families the story. “Shop Together, Win Together” fused creator influence, paid digital and a seamless raffle journey to turn attention into action, delivering 3.03M creator reach, 36,518 registrations and a Ramadan experience made to be shared.
Silver
Digital-first family activation. The Diaper Derby turned Oasis Mall Dubai into a baby crawling racetrack every registration, impression and share generated online. Parent-creator partnerships and phased social content converted digital reach into packed footfall and viral user-generated content.
Silver
Place Vendôme’s Ladies Night turned a limited premium experience into a digital-first participation platform, using friendship, fashion and creator culture to make audiences part of the campaign itself. Exclusivity became the trigger for social discovery, engagement and destination appeal.
Silver
ReTales is Place Vendôme’s retailer storytelling social media series, giving brands a platform to share why they chose the destination, reflect on their journey and reveal what comes next, turning tenant voices into authentic stories of partnership, growth and ambition.
Silver
Souq7 matched creators to specific audiences and actions, then amplified the strongest content across paid and owned channels, turning its feed into a digital front door that delivered 47.5 million reach, 570,689 clicks and measurable tenant footfall growth.
Silver
Waterfront Market turned Dubai’s leading chefs into authentic destination advocates through Behind the Plating. Across 10 episodes, the series delivered 8.3M+ impressions and 4.4M+ views, expanding organic reach, audience engagement and destination interest.
Silver
The campaign transformed Ramadan nostalgia into a digital movement, turning food lovers into storytellers and advocates for Waterfront Market. Through influencers and community participation, it drove engagement, strengthened brand affinity, increased visitation and created meaningful connections.
Emerging Technology
Silver
Dalma Mall transformed a routine visit into a phygital wellness journey through CityMoov, ADPHC’s location-based gamified platform. QR checkpoints, trivia, live challenges & rewards turning retail into an interactive dynamic ecosystem, driving discovery, participation & engagement through technology
Silver
Souq7 became the first known retail destination globally to transform its real world environment into a persistent Battle Royale island within Fortnite. Linked to a 450 sqm activation, it reached 100,000 cumulative downloads to 31 July 2026, while 30%+ of 500+ respondents reported visit influence.
Public Relations
Silver
A culturally relevant PR story transformed national pride into something people could own. With zero paid press investment, this campaign secured Tier 1 coverage, 127.3M earned reach and AED 1.4M AVE supporting a limited-edition gold and silver collection sell out eight days early.
Rising Retail Star of the Year Award
1 Winner
Winner
Four years into his career, Jamal Bakizada delivers more than 40 events a year, from mall openings and signing ceremonies to Retail Congress MENA, MIPIM and MAPIC among others. He started as an executive assistant in 2022 and has since taken on corporate communications and a two-grade promotion.
Retail Professional of the Year Award
2 Winners
Winner
A retailer of 25 years who began on the shop floor as a sales associate, Eli Simon Aoun led a loss-making business back into profit while trading 100 fewer stores, lifting like-for-like sales 4.5 per cent and growing e-commerce from 2 to 8 per cent of total sales.
Winner
With 25 years in retail, Wouter Van Wemmel has built a regional portfolio of social entertainment destinations across the GCC and wider MENA. His design approach ties concept, customer journey, operations and commercial performance together from the first sketch.
Issued by the Middle East Council of Shopping Centres & Retailers (MECSR), Dubai, October 2026. The full list is also available as the official PDF (5.1 MB).
How entries are judged
Every entry is measured against the same standard. The score, not a vote, decides the medal.
- 1Scored independentlySeveral judges from across the industry score each entry on their own, while the round is open.
- 2Against set criteriaEach criterion is scored out of 10, and the criteria are weighted to suit the category.
- 3Fair by designJudges step aside from any entry they worked on, from their own employer and from direct competitors, and every judge signs a confidentiality agreement.
A combined score of 85 or more earns Gold, and 70 to 84.99 earns Silver. Entries are not ranked against each other and there is no fixed number of winners, so a category can have several Gold or Silver awards, or none.
The jury
23 independent judges from across the region’s retail and real estate industry.
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Barry McGettigan is Vice President, Property at Landmark Group, one of the region's largest retailers. Based in Dubai, he leads property strategy, acquisitions, lease renewals and asset management across the Middle East and North Africa, spanning brands including Centrepoint, Home Centre, Home Box, Max Fashion, Splash and Babyshop. He joined Landmark in 2014 following agency roles at JLL MENA and Colliers International, and holds a BSc (Hons) in Property Studies from GMIT, Ireland.
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Bhupinder Singh is General Manager and Chief Financial Officer of Dalma Mall, Abu Dhabi. A retail asset professional with over three decades across the UAE and Oman, he has held leadership roles with MAF Investments, Emaar Malls Group and Meraas Holding, and believes that strategy ultimately proves itself in the numbers.
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Clair Stuart-Menteth is a British trained visual merchandising and retail experience specialist, and founder of Sticky Red, established in the UAE in 2009. With more than two decades of experience across the Middle East and an early career foundation in London luxury retail, Clair works across retail, luxury, hospitality and events, connecting visual strategy, customer experience and commercial thinking.
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Hussain Kareem Jamal is a retail real estate and shopping mall operations expert with 25+ years of experience across the GCC (Tamani Global, Line Investments, Al Majid Property). He specializes in asset management, pre-opening strategy, operational efficiency, and customer experience. Currently pursuing a Master’s in Business Sustainability in New Zealand, Hussain blends hands-on operational excellence with ESG strategies and is a featured speaker and trainer on future-ready retail management.
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Kabir Malkani is a CX, Brand Positioning and Growth Strategist with over 28 years of experience helping businesses create commercial advantage through strategic positioning. He works with brands across the GCC and the UK on brand positioning, customer experience, and growth strategy, with experience spanning retail, shopping malls, mobility, and consumer brands. A recipient of multiple regional marketing and retail excellence awards, Kabir currently serves as a jury member for the MECSR Awards.
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Lina Abbas is a senior commercial real estate and retail leader with 20+ years of experience in Kuwait and the GCC. She has held senior roles with leading organizations including Tamdeen Mall Management, Americana Group, and The Sultan Center. A former MECSR Regional Representative for Kuwait for 10 years, Lina brings deep market insight and strategic leadership to leasing, retail development, and evolving GCC market dynamics.
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Lizelle Fitoussi is Group Marketing Director at Merex Investment Group, leading marketing for City Walk, The Beach JBR and J1 Beach. With 25+ years of experience across the Middle East and South Africa, she has held senior roles at Majid Al Futtaim, Al-Futtaim Group, Meraas and Dubai Tourism. She is Vice President of the Middle East Council of Shopping Centres & Retailers and a judge for the MECSR, MEPRA and Effie Awards.
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Mohammad Iqbal Alawi is one of the defining figures in Saudi Arabia's retail and real estate sectors, with more than 35 years of leadership that has helped shape the Kingdom's modern retail landscape. He currently serves as Vice Chairman of Alsarah Holding Company, contributing his extensive retail, real estate and destination-development expertise to the group's diversified investment and hospitality agenda, and as Chairman of the Saudi Retail Forum.
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Nada Ghaoui Abousaab is Co-founder and Partner of FIKRA Consultants and a global marketing leader with more than 30 years of experience across the Middle East, Africa, and North America. She has led award-winning strategies in retail, placemaking, customer experience, and business transformation. Nada is also Chief Marketing Officer at Digital Opportunity Trust, a senior board leader, global industry judge, mentor, and international speaker. She turns ideas into enduring global growth.
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With 20+ years of retail leadership, Nancy is Mall Division GM at Sharaf Group, directing asset strategy across Dubai and Oman. An expert in retail ecosystems, she pairs community engagement with cutting-edge tech to shape future spaces. Her executive career features iconic UAE malls, including Deerfields, Al Ghurair Centre, and Ibn Battuta. A dedicated triathlete, Nancy applies elite athletic discipline and visionary endurance to cultivating world-class commercial environments.
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Nevzat Yavan is Chief Operating Officer of Esas Properties, with over 27 years of experience in mixed-use, shopping center, office, and residential projects across Türkiye and international markets. He has led the development, leasing, and asset management of over 80 projects and drives Esas Properties’ development, new investments, and Esas Burda Asset Management’s international expansion. He also leads the company’s AI and digital initiatives.
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Phil Kim is Chairman of Jerde, with offices in Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore, and Seoul. The firm has received 170 awards and its projects attract over one billion visitors annually. He is Chair of ULI Foundation HK and the education program UrbanPlan with over two thousand students in Asia, former Chair of ULI HK, Global Governing Trustee, and APAC Task Force member. He is also a Founding Member of the Institute for Sustainable Urbanisation and a juror for ICSC and MECSR awards.
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Phil McArthur's impressive experience spans more than 4 decades in the global retail development. He has shaped iconic retail and mixed-use destinations across the Middle East, Asia, and North America. As the Founder and Chairman of PHIL McARTHUR & PARTNERS, Retail Development Specialists, he leads the delivery of strategic, value-driven solutions tailored to the needs of clients and investors. Over the past 14 years, Phil and his team have serviced over 200 clients in 30 countries.
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Rachel Kidwell is the founder of TCPinpoint, a cloud-based platform built around the lease-to-open journey, and its consulting arm, TC Deliver. Based in Adelaide and working across Australia and the Gulf, she helps landlords, developers and retailers bring clarity, structure and trust to the work of turning signed leases into open stores.
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Sanjay Mehta is the Group Marketing Director at United Developers, Qatar, with over 25 years of experience in shopping centre, retail, hospitality and destination marketing across MENA and South Asia. Renowned for innovative, data-driven omnichannel marketing, he has held senior leadership roles with Taj Hotels, Majid Al Futtaim, ALDAR Properties and Eagle Hills, leading award-winning campaigns for iconic retail destinations. He is ICSC-certified in Shopping Centre Management (New York).
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Int'l retail real estate executive with 30+ years of experience leading market expansion, retail portfolio strategy, shopping center development & mixed-use assets across USA, Europe and the Middle East. Trusted by retailers, owners, developers & investors to identify opportunities, optimize portfolios, and execute projects from development thru stabilized operations. Brings a unique perspective developed thru leadership roles with retailers, owners, 3rd party managers and int'l advisory firms.
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Subodh Panangatt is the Director, Research & Advisory at GRMC, with over 20 years of experience in retail and real estate advisory across the GCC and MENA. He specialises in retail strategy, mixed-use developments, and consumer engagement. Subodh advises developers and investors on positioning and growth, combining data, market insight, and operational expertise to shape future-ready retail destinations.
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Marketing and customer experience leader with 15+ years of experience across Saudi Arabia and India, driving growth and brand transformation in retail, real estate, F&B and technology. Having held leadership roles at Apparel Group, Al-Futtaim, Popeyes and now leading Marketing at Hamat. Skilled in brand strategy, CRM and loyalty ecosystems, omnichannel campaigns and go-to-market execution, aligning marketing with leasing, operations and finance for measurable, board-relevant business impact.
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Todd Pilgreen is Co-Office Managing Director of Gensler Middle East, with more than 25 years of experience leading complex design and development projects across Asia and the Middle East. An architect and business leader, he oversees multidisciplinary teams delivering innovative mixed-use, retail, hospitality, and entertainment destinations for some of the world's leading organizations.
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Entering the region in 2016, Vanessa has spearheaded the delivery of new brands for major projects across retail, real-estate destinations, entertainment and hospitality brands holding Executive Group Director positions at Dubai Holding, Nakheel and Al-Futtaim Real Estate, working across the Middle East, Europe and Australasia regions.
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Vythnathan Mahalingam is General Manager of Bharat Mart at DP World, leading the commercialization, governance, and operational readiness of a flagship B2B & B2C trade ecosystem strengthening India-UAE trade connectivity. With over 20 years of experience across the UAE, GCC, and India, he has held leadership roles with DP World, Al Ghurair, Landmark Group, CapitaLand, and JLL, specializing in retail real estate, mixed-use developments, strategic leasing, and asset transformation.
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Vienna-born, Dubai-based, and one of hospitality's most battle-tested operators: Will Odwarka has opened 1,000+ outlets across 40+ countries for giants like McDonald's, Starbucks, and Burger King. Now Founder/CEO of Heartatwork Hospitality Consulting, he advises on market entry, brand scouting, and Franchise structure and development, while lecturing at universities and sitting on several advisory board.
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Zeynep joined CBRE MENA in 2017 and has over 15 years of Middle East retail experience. She provides retail consultancy and leasing services focused on innovative merchandize mixes, rental projections, and support retailers expanding in the region.
Gold
Social Value @Work embeds sustainability into Esas Properties’ operations through employee ownership and stakeholder collaboration. In partnership with Yanındayız Association, the programme engaged 35 out of 200 collegues , reached 4.800 people and involved nearly 2.000 children.