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 MacFarlane, 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.

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 unpack the scale and significance of Saudi Arabia’s transformation, highlighting what it means for duty free and travel retail stakeholders eager to engage with one of the region’s most vibrant and fast-evolving markets.

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 look at how brands, retailers, and airports can collaborate, stay accountable, and genuinely promote change. It’s a call to move from mere ambition to concrete action.

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 Harold Sunner, Area Manager for Middle East and Africa at Gebr Heinemann, and Claudio Ferreira, Vice President Global Travel Retail, Japan Tobacco International (JTI), who will share insights from the front lines of travel retail’s African expansion.

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.

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.