Today’s MEA traveler is redefining luxury—favoring authenticity, regional flair, and digital-first convenience. Stephen Hillam, Managing Director at Pi Insight, unveils new data on how younger, experience-hungry shoppers are shaping demand for sustainable luxury and lifestyle-driven offers. With regional identities becoming central to global appeal, this session reveals how brands and retailers can stay ahead by blending exclusivity with purpose and cultural resonance.
Archives
Networking Lunch
Gala Dinner and Awards Night
Risk & resilience: Navigating MEA’s business landscape
As the Middle East and Africa continue to evolve amid shifting economic and political dynamics, understanding regional business conditions is key to unlocking long-term growth. In this session, Trevor McFarlane, Managing Director at EMIR, offers a timely briefing on the macro trends influencing investment, consumer confidence, and developments across the region. With fresh insights into how market conditions are changing, this session will highlight strategies for travel retail stakeholders to strengthen resilience, anticipate shifts, and make informed decisions in a landscape defined by transformation and opportunity.
Destination Saudi: Growth & opportunity
Saudi Arabia is rapidly redefining the regional tourism and retail landscape through ambitious reforms and bold investments aligned with Vision 2030. As the Kingdom opens its doors to the world, a dynamic new identity is emerging—fueled by cutting-edge infrastructure, a surge in international visitors, and a growing appetite for innovation. This session will explore the scope and significance of Saudi Arabia’s transformation, with Al Waha Duty Free Company CEO Jack MacGowan discussing its implications for duty free and travel retail stakeholders interested in engaging with one of the region’s most dynamic and rapidly changing markets.
MEADFA Sustainability update: Call to action
Sustainability in travel retail requires a unified effort; it cannot be achieved through isolated actions. This session encourages industry leaders to come together under a shared Sustainability Charter to turn commitments into real results. Dr. Munif Mohammed, head of the MEADFA Sustainability Committee, will stress the importance of committed leadership towards a common charter with shared goals like reducing waste, achieving carbon neutrality, and sourcing responsibly. The session will also hear from Kreol Group’s Executive Director, Kreol Arakulath, on their sustainability journey and its impact on the community they serve.
Networking Coffee Break
The next wave of Africa travel retail
With a young, fast-growing population, accelerating economic momentum, and expanding air connectivity, Africa stands poised to become one of the most exciting frontiers for duty free and travel retail. Yet alongside this promise lies a unique set of challenges—from complex regulatory frameworks and fragmented infrastructure to evolving consumer expectations across diverse markets.
This session convenes industry leaders to examine how brands and operators can navigate these complexities and unlock the region’s long-term potential. Joining the discussion are Ali Tounsi, Secretary General of ACI Africa, and Harald Suenner, Sales Director Middle East Africa at Heinemann Middle East Africa, Claudio Ferreira, Vice President Global Travel Retail, Japan Tobacco International (JTI) and Loice Muforo, Sales Manager for Scent of Africa who will share insights from the front lines of travel retail’s African expansion.
The India Effect: How Indian travellers are reshaping MEA’s travel retail landscape
Indian travelers are becoming a key driver of growth for duty free and travel retail across the Middle East and Africa. With increasing purchasing power and a strong appetite for global brands, they are influencing category demand and redefining retail expectations in airports across the region. As MEA hubs see a surge in Indian passenger traffic, this session explores how the industry can adapt to better engage this increasingly influential consumer segment. Pooja Padmanabhan Bommidala, CEO of BBM Travel Retail, Renat Rozpravka, CEO of Muscat Duty Free, and Mudit Srivastava, COO at Cococart, will share their perspectives on the growing influence of Indian travelers and the opportunities this consumer group presents for the sector.
PRESENTATION – POOJA PADMANABHAN
Travel takeaway
With travel in MEA on a rapid ascent, this closing session offers a data-rich snapshot of where the industry is heading. IATA’s Martina Bednarikova presents the latest aviation trends—from route expansion and passenger booking patterns to infrastructure investments and the economic levers driving tourism. As airports scale up and airlines broaden their networks, this session connects the dots between travel momentum and retail opportunity, providing a compelling outlook on what’s next for the industry in the region.
