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.

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:

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.

About MECSR
Established in 1994, the Middle East Council of Shopping Centres & Retailers (MECSR) is the MENA region’s premier non-profit organization representing the retail and shopping centre industry. Through world-class events, education, and advocacy, MECSR empowers retail professionals to connect, innovate, and succeed.

www.mecsr.org