All is set for the opening of Smart Stores Expo tomorrow at the Dubai International Exhibition and Convention Center.  With the aim of grasping the opportunities presented by the burgeoning local market, Smart Stores Expo will cover the latest trends and technologies shaping the future of retail during its three-day run.

The business of retail in the UAE continues to show great promise with an analysis from the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry predicting a compound annual growth rate of 4.9 per cent and retail sales turnover reaching $71 billion by 2021.  Dubai Chamber also revealed that Dubai’s retail market alone is projected to record average growth of 5.6 per cent from 2018 to 2021, with the value of retail sales expected to reach $43.8 billion by 2021.

Organized by Virtual Info Systems (VIS), Smart Stores Expo 2018 is bannered under the theme ‘Explore the Future of Smart Retail’.  It will feature a three-day exhibit and a two-day conference dedicated to help players reinvent their businesses in a rapidly evolving retail landscape.  The Exhibit will consist of four focus areas – Build, Operate, Manage and Retail Leasing – showcasing local and international vendors, suppliers and property developers.  The Conference, on the other hand, will have renowned industry experts discussing the demands of the modern consumer and sharing their views on the future of retail.

“Smart Stores Expo is the premier educational and networking event to help retailers enhance their businesses and further drive their strategy forward.  Once again, we will be bringing together an elite group of international experts and vendors to inspire participants with innovative ideas, and at the same time allow them to enjoy unmatched opportunity to connect with business leaders making an impact in the industry,” said Jayaraman Nair, Chairman, VIS Exhibitions and Conferences.

Designed to promote smart retail innovations, the Exhibit will have leading manufacturers and service providers displaying cutting-edge solutions that best address today’s digitally competitive retail environment.   Additionally, vendors will offer a variety of live and interactive demonstrations.  Exhibitors from the Build Category will showcase solutions and technology ideal to build a retail space in the most efficient and sustainable way.

Featured in the Operate Category are manufacturers and distributors who provide the latest tools used to operate a retail space.  All those who provide sustainable and innovative services and solutions that will help manage a retail space, meanwhile, will be showcased in the expo’s Manage Category.  Finally, Retail Leasing will feature the most promising retail properties available for top retail brands to lease.

Aligned to the Exhibit is the Conference offering the most up-to-date presentations and dynamic discussions on best practices and evolving trends to engage shoppers and future-proof your retail business.  Among key topics to be covered are:

• The new age of RFID: Transforming retail and data inventory, with Nainan M. Kurian, CEO & Managing Director, Technowave Group, ME & India
• A New Era Of Customer Engagement, with Allan Chapman- Vice President – I.T. and Logistics, Dubai Duty-Free
• Digital Trends In The Fashion Field, with Mansour Salameh – Head Of Omni-Channel Retail- Facebook
• Rise Of The Apps: The Mobile Revolution In Retail Industry, by Mudit Saxena – Head Of Retail – Commercial Bank Of Dubai.

Complementing the individual presentations are interesting Panel Discussions for a holistic learning opportunity. “Smart Stores Expo is the ultimate must-attend event if you are looking to stay informed with the game-changing technologies and strategies being applied at all levels of retail,” Nair concluded. Smart Stores Expo 2018 is happening from September 4 to 6 at Hall 3 of the Dubai International Exhibition And Convention Center.