20-22 April 2026
Three Days of...
Insight
Innovation
Connection
RLI Connect MENA returns to Riyadh on 20-22 April 2026 with a powerful three-day programme designed to bring together global and regional leaders shaping the future of retail, leisure and lifestyle across the Middle East and North Africa.
- 20 - 22 April 2026
- Crowne Plaza Hotel, Riyadh Digital City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Through a world-class Forum, curated Deal-Making, on-the-ground exploration and an elegant Finale Dinner, the event offers a comprehensive journey into the strategies, experiences and developments redefining the region. From investment and large-scale destination vision to the evolution of luxury and next-generation consumer experiences, RLI Connect MENA provides an exceptional platform to learn, connect and engage at the heart of one of the world’s most dynamic markets.
Day One
RLI Connect MENA Forum
Insight, Vision, Leadership
The RLI Connect MENA Forum will open the three-day programme with a full day of strategic discussion and visionary dialogue among global and regional leaders shaping the future of retail and leisure.
Through four high-level panel sessions and an exclusive fireside chat, the Forum will explore the investment strategies, creative innovations and transformative developments driving growth across the Middle East.
From redefining luxury and reinventing retail experiences to exploring the convergence of tourism, culture and commerce, the Forum will deliver powerful insights and real-world examples of how ambition, collaboration and design excellence are creating the world’s next generation of destinations.
This is where thought leadership meets opportunity and where the future of retail and leisure in the MENA region begins.
Day two
RLI Connect MENA
Deal-Making Event
Where Business Meets Opportunity
Day Two of RLI Connect MENA is dedicated to creating meaningful partnerships and driving tangible business growth.
The RLI Connect Deal-Making Event provides a focused environment where global and regional retailers, developers, owners, franchise partners and investors engage in curated one-to-one meetings designed to unlock new opportunities across the Middle East.
This high-level deal-making platform is the beating heart of RLI – a place where connections turn into collaborations and ideas evolve into real-world ventures. Participants will explore expansion strategies, investment partnerships and development pipelines in a dynamic, time-efficient format that maximises engagement and outcomes.
Building on the success of RLI Connect events worldwide, the Riyadh edition continues our tradition of facilitating trusted relationships and delivering measurable value across every link of the retail and leisure ecosystem.
Day three
Retail Safari
& Finale Dinner
Retail Safari
Experience. Discover. Connect.
The final day of RLI Connect MENA invites delegates to explore the creativity and ambition shaping Saudi Arabia’s retail landscape.
The morning Retail Safari will showcase Riyadh’s most inspiring retail and lifestyle destinations – from dynamic mixed-use environments to exceptional luxury districts – offering a rare, first-hand perspective on the city’s evolution as a global destination.
Finale Dinner
Where Leaders Gather to Reflect, Connect & Look Ahead
The RLI Connect MENA Finale Dinner serves as the pinnacle of the event experience – an elegant gathering that unites visionaries, decision-makers and innovators from across the region and around the world. Set within a refined and atmospheric setting, the evening offers guests a chance to deepen meaningful connections, share reflections from the Forum and Deal-Making Event and look ahead to the opportunities transforming the Middle East’s retail and
leisure landscape.
More than a dinner, it is a moment of shared celebration, marking the close of three exceptional days in Riyadh with warmth, sophistication and an unmistakable sense of forward momentum. A fitting conclusion to three exceptional days
in Riyadh.
Looking Ahead
RLI’s return to Riyadh marks a new chapter in our global journey – a platform that unites international and regional stakeholders in shaping the future of retail and leisure across the MENA region. As Saudi Arabia continues its unprecedented investment in tourism, entertainment and lifestyle destinations, RLI remains proud to play a pivotal role in connecting ideas, people and opportunities that define this next era of growth.
