Saudi Retail Forum 2026 to discuss brand expansion in Riyadh

Riyadh will host the fourth Saudi Retail Forum on 19 November 2026 at the voco Riyadh hotel, bringing together senior executives, brand founders and specialists in operations, marketing and technology. The event will explore six themes relevant to the franchise community, notably the ambitions of local brands, the future of retail spaces and building consumer trust.

Fourth edition brings together brands and operational expertise

Organised by Images RetailME under the theme ‘Tomorrow’s blueprint starts today’, the forum continues its presence in Saudi Arabia following its launch in 2023. The announced programme includes panel discussions, keynote speeches and networking opportunities, alongside an exhibition area. Registration provides access to forum sessions, key discussions and networking with retail professionals.

The event brings together representatives from retail, brands, technology, services and consultancy, as well as decision-makers and experts. Participating sectors include fashion and lifestyle, food and grocery, foodservice, beauty and personal care, furniture and homeware, health and pharmacy, and entertainment. E-commerce and technology specialists will also take part, broadening the discussion beyond products and shops to the tools that support their operations.

For the franchise community, the agenda’s direct relevance lies in operations, expansion and customer experience. The forum covers retail in its broadest sense; it is not a dedicated exhibition for selling franchise opportunities. Its themes nevertheless overlap with the needs of brands using franchising to grow within Saudi Arabia and abroad. This distinction matters when deciding why to attend and what to expect from meetings.

Six themes, from brand ambition to customer trust

The fourth edition’s agenda covers the ambitions of local brands, the future of retail spaces, emerging technologies, changing consumer behaviour, trust in brands, and talent and skills development. These themes place brand growth alongside operational requirements, rather than limiting the discussion to geographical expansion or new openings.

The focus on local brands reflects the forum’s emphasis on businesses and leaders operating in the Saudi market. The future of retail spaces opens up discussion about the destinations that host shops and shopping experiences, alongside emerging technologies and changing consumer expectations. The agenda thus connects the places where brands operate with the ways they interact with customers.

Other topics include the growing role of digital commerce, the importance of integrating physical and online channels, and the need to develop operational and management capabilities. These are relevant to franchisees and franchisors reviewing operating models or considering expansion. They offer an opportunity to follow discussions about sales channels, customer experience and skills in one setting, without replacing the need to assess each investment opportunity individually.

Local participation highlights Saudi market experience

According to the forum, local professionals accounted for around 70% of participants on its platform in previous editions. This figure relates to past participation and is not an announcement of the expected attendance breakdown for 2026. It reflects the forum’s emphasis on giving professionals working in Saudi Arabia a platform to share their experience alongside regional and international experts.

Discussing the changes taking place in retail, forum chairman Mohammed Alawi highlighted the growing role of local brands, evolving business models and stronger operational capabilities. He also addressed pressures on trade routes and changing travel patterns as factors shaping the business environment and discussions about the future.

Bringing together local experience and participants from multiple sectors creates scope to compare operational challenges and approaches to improving customer experience. For brands using franchising, the value lies in hearing from the market in which they operate or plan to enter, while distinguishing between useful insights and outcomes that still need to be tested within their own business model.

How can the franchise community benefit from attending?

Franchisees and franchisors can plan their attendance around the themes closest to their priorities: improving customer experience, adopting technology, developing skills or understanding commercial space options. Given the breadth of the agenda, identifying questions in advance is likely to be more useful than attending without a clear focus or giving every topic equal attention.

Practical questions to prepare might include: which aspect of operations needs improving? Which sales channel needs reviewing? What skills are needed to support expansion? These are suggested questions to help attendees get more from the discussions, not additional announced topics or guaranteed outcomes of participation.

Practical takeaway: The forum takes place on 19 November 2026 at the voco Riyadh hotel. Members of the franchise community should identify a clear operational priority before attending, then focus their session choices and networking on expertise that can help them assess it. Participation should not be treated as a substitute for evaluating expansion plans and their viability.