Mideast shopping centre summit scheduled for December

Themed 'Partners In Progress', the conference will provide an opportunity for retailers and developers to interact on the growth of retail in the region.

The centre, which sits in the shadow of the world-famous Burj Al Arab will play host to industry professionals from across the Arab world, including North Africa, the Levant and the six Gulf Cooperation Countries (GCC), as well as participants from Europe, North America, Australia and Asia. Attendees will be able to participate in a range of panel discussions and open forums covering relevant topics.

Mike Davidson, MECSC President, said: 'We are expecting a 10 percent increase in attendance over last year. This is in part due to the current boom in construction and development, which will see the Gulf countries close in on twelve million square metres of gross leasable retail space before the end of the decade.'

'The region already has more than 250 malls, shopping centres and mixed-use developments all generating consistently high footfall. Retailers looking to establish their brands here, or current retailers looking to expand further, will have an unending choice of sites to choose from in the coming years.'

Simon Thomson, Principal of Retail International®, the UK-based independent retail consultancy specialising in the Middle East, predicts that the combined Gulf / Levant region could be looking at over 14 million square metres within five years, with the UAE holding the lion's share at an anticipated 5.8 million square metres. Other markets currently experiencing a retail boom include Lebanon, Egypt and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Kim Redman, Regional Director for the MECSC, said: 'We have already received a positive response for this year's event and it is the first time we are pushing for more retailers to participate. Their input will be invaluable in shaping the future of Arab retail.'