Scheduled Sessions
5th May 2026 | Riyadh Marriott Hotel
Hear directly from the leaders shaping the next chapter of Saudi retail. Ministers, CEOs and industry pioneers will explore how commerce is evolving into a cultural force, a technological framework and a pillar of national development.
10:00 AM – 10:20 AM
Keynote:
The Retail Nation – Designing Saudi’s Blueprint For Global Commerce
Saudi Arabia is charting its own path in retail. This opening keynote features a senior minister or founder outlining how retail is becoming part of the country’s economic architecture and cultural identity. The session explores data sovereignty, payments innovation and the evolution of customer experience, offering a clear view of how Saudi retail will expand from domestic strength to global impact. Expect a direct, strategic roadmap that links ambition to national outcomes.
10:20 AM – 10:40 AM
Fireside Chat:
Saudi Retail By The Numbers – What’s Working & What’s Next
A data-focused conversation that cuts through assumptions and goes straight to the metrics. Speakers break down where growth is truly accelerating, from mobile commerce and mall footfall to shifts across grocery, fashion, pharma and luxury. The discussion highlights barriers slowing national scale, including fragmented payments, fulfilment gaps and talent shortages, and closes with a six-month action agenda for the sector.
10:40 AM – 11:10 AM
Panel:
Scaling For Impact – What It Takes To Win Saudi’s Giga Projects
Saudi’s new cities are redefining how people live and shop, and retailers must rethink how their operations scale. This panel delves into the decisions that matter most, including platform partnerships, fulfillment models, and the economics of omnichannel expansion. Leaders share real outcomes from the Saudi market and offer practical frameworks for building at national scale while protecting efficiency and customer experience.
11:10 AM – 11:30 AM
Coffee Break
11:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Panel:
The Future Of Payments And The Rise Of Native BNPL
This session examines the foundations of a next-generation payments ecosystem designed for trust, inclusion, and rapid adoption. Speakers explore merchant economics, the rise of digital wallets and the realities behind BNPL growth. Expect a practical look at regulation, data integration and consumer habits, along with a collaboration checklist for retailers, fintechs and banks.
12:00 PM – 12:10 PM
Spotlight:
Inside An RMN Pilot That Delivered Results
A leading brand breaks down a rare retail media network pilot that produced verifiable impact. The talk walks through early test campaigns, revenue lift and what the team learned along the way. The focus is on replicable steps that malls, marketplaces and large retail networks can adopt across the Kingdom.
12:10 PM – 12:20 PM
Spotlight:
The BNPL Balancing Act – What The Numbers Really Say
A retail CFO presents an unfiltered analysis of BNPL performance. The session examines conversion trends, default risks and the narrow margins that define the category. Attendees gain a deeper understanding of what drives profitability, where losses occur and the regulatory shifts that could unlock new value.
12:20 PM – 12:30 PM
Tech Talk:
Building Trust In The Data Room – How Identity Can Power Saudi’s Retail Media Future
As retailers race to monetise audiences, privacy has become the foundation of sustainable growth. This session explains how clean rooms, consent-led identity design and on-shore collaboration models enable powerful insights without compromising security. A solution provider shares real regional use cases and activation strategies built for Saudi’s retail media future.
12:30 PM – 1:00 PM
Panel:
The Experience Economy – Turning Saudi’s Malls Into Self-Sustaining Media Destinations
Saudi malls are emerging as cultural and commercial destinations. This panel explores how developers and brands are turning footfall into measurable value through sponsorships, retail media and event-driven engagement. Expect clear insights on pricing models, ownership approaches and the next generation of spaces that blend entertainment, commerce, and data.
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Lunch & Networking
2:00 PM – 2:10 PM
Spotlight:
Inside The Fast Lane – How Saudi Retailers Are Rethinking Fulfilment For Speed & Scale
A leading grocer or tech operator walks through how fulfilment is being rebuilt for a market that expects immediacy. The presentation covers dark store optimisation, hyperlocal inventory strategies and lessons from early pilots. The focus is on what truly works in the Saudi context and what others can test next.
2:10 PM – 2:40 PM
Panel:
Ship-From-Store Vs Dark Stores – Which Wins In Saudi Urban Geographies?
This session brings together retail and logistics leaders to compare two competing fulfilment models. The conversation examines speed, accuracy, returns and cost-to-serve, offering real data from Saudi’s urban environments. Attendees gain an honest view of which model prevails under specific conditions and where the next efficiencies will emerge.
2:40 PM – 2:50 PM
Tech Talk:
Rethinking The Last Mile – How Lockers & Micro-Hubs Change The Math
The final leg of delivery remains the most expensive. A last-mile operator shares insights from locker deployments and micro-hub networks that reduce costs and increase first-attempt delivery rates. Expect utilisation benchmarks, density insights and lessons from live pilots.
2:50 PM – 3:10 PM
Fireside Chat:
Can AI-Native Stores Win Hearts (& Carts) In Saudi Without Cultural Friction?
Automation promises speed and personalization, but cultural comfort determines adoption. A technologist, a retail design expert and a privacy specialist discuss where AI improves convenience and where it creates friction. The focus is on human-centered store design and the moments where AI enhances margins without compromising trust.
3:10 PM – 3:20 PM
Tech Talk:
The Smart Shelf Revolution: Inside The ESL & Vision Stack
Electronic Shelf Labels and Computer Vision are redefining store intelligence. This session covers how the combined stack reduces stockouts and shrink while enabling real-time pricing and personalised in-aisle engagement. A vendor outlines deployment KPIs and the ROI retailers can expect within a single rollout cycle.
3:20 PM – 3:50 PM
Panel:
Can Sustainability Pay For Itself In Retail?
Sustainability is now a commercial decision. This panel analyzes the economics behind circular packaging, low-carbon logistics, and energy-efficient malls, highlighting examples from Saudi retailers that are already turning sustainability into a margin gain. Attendees receive actionable pathways for profitable transformation.
3:50 PM – 4:00 PM
Tech Talk:
Packaging That Pays Back – The Economics Of Reuse
A straightforward look at the financial reality of reuse models. The talk examines break-even timelines, procurement shifts and outcomes from pilots already in progress across the region. Sustainability is evaluated through both environmental and financial metrics.
4:00 PM – 4:30 PM
Panel:
The Talent Equation – Building A Retail Workforce At National Speed
As Saudi retail expands, workforce development must accelerate. Leaders from HR, policy and training outline how localization, apprenticeships and reskilling can support inclusive growth, with women playing a central role. The session offers program blueprints, measurable KPIs and partnership models ready for execution.
4:30 PM – 4:40 PM
Spotlight:
What Saudis Buy When No One’s Watching
A fast, insightful tour through Saudi Arabia’s hidden consumption patterns. The session reveals late-night surges, payday peaks, Ramadan shifts and quiet weekday habits that shape national demand. It is data-driven, human and filled with surprising behavioural nuances.
4:40 PM – 5:00 PM
Spotlight:
Investing in Retail Tech – What VCs Want
A leading venture investor breaks down the fundamentals of investability in Saudi retail. Topics include repeat purchase dynamics, margin expectations, CAC payback and the signals that separate early experiments from scalable businesses. Founders and corporate innovators leave with a clear fundraising playbook.
5:00 PM – 5:30 PM
Panel:
The Consumer Code – What Data Says About Desire
The closing conversation explores the psychology behind Saudi purchasing decisions. A retailer and a data strategist examine insights from sentiment models, A/B-tested campaigns and creative experiments. The session unpacks how emotion, design and experience come together to shape the modern Saudi shopper.
5:30 PM – 5:40 PM
Closing Note
7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Evening – Retail World Forum Awards & Reception
A curated gala celebrating standout pilots, design achievements, retailtainment concepts and mall leadership across the Kingdom. The evening combines cultural performances, recognition moments and high-level networking for senior leaders and partners.
