MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA. The Middle East & Africa Duty Free Association (MEADFA) has revealed programme details for its three-day conference, to be held from 9-11 November at the InterContinental Dubai Festival City.
The event kicks off with an Opening Cocktail on Sunday, allowing delegates to connect ahead of the conference, which starts on the Monday at 9am. The Moodie Davitt Report President Dermot Davitt and TFWA Conference Director Michele Miranda will welcome guests, followed by opening remarks from MEADFA President Abdeslam Agzoul.
Executives from top travel retailers will feature on a high-profile panel, ‘Leading through Change’, sharing insights on managing complexities and reimagining the value proposition for today’s travellers.
These include Avolta CEO Middle East and Africa Abdeslam Agzoul; ARI Chief Operations and Business Development Officer Nuno Amaral; Africa Travel Retail Co-Founder and Executive Chair Chichi Maponya; Lagardère Travel Retail CEO France & Luxembourg and COO MEA, Southeast Asia & Africa Vincent Romet; and Gebr. Heinemann CEO Middle East Africa Bernard Schlafstein.
Delegates will return from a coffee break for the ‘Safeguarding Tomorrow’s Travel Retail’ session, discussing how advocacy is evolving to meet current industry challenges.
The panel features MEADFA Advocacy Committee Chair Nuno Amaral; Organico Solutions Managing Director Roger Jackson; Chichi Maponya; DFWC President Sarah Branquinho; and COMESA Secretary General Teddy Soobramanien, discussing how advocacy is evolving to meet current industry challenges.
Day one concludes with two key sessions – ‘The Business of Airports: Economic Trends & Non-Aero Growth’ led by ACI World Head of Economics Ilia Lioutov, and ‘Luxury, Local, and Lifestyle: The New Face of MEA Travel Retail’ led by Pi Insight Managing Director Stephen Hillam.
The discussions will cover the latest economic outlooks, trends influencing retail, F&B and commercial services, and new data on how younger, experience-driven shoppers are shaping demand for sustainable luxury and lifestyle offers.
Tuesday’s agenda includes a session, ‘Risk & Resilience: Navigating MEA’s Business Landscape’, featuring EMIR Managing Director Trevor McFarlane, offering insights on macro-trends, investment, consumer confidence and developments in the region’s most dynamic markets.
The day continues with ‘Destination Saudi: Growth & Opportunity’, a session dedicated to exploring the scope of Saudi Arabia’s transformation.
Immediately after, the ‘MEADFA Sustainability Update: Call to Action’ will feature MEADFA Sustainability Committee Head Dr Munif Mohammed, who will outline a collaborative framework for brands, retailers and airports to convert sustainability pledges into concrete results.
The future of Africa’s travel retail sector takes centre stage in a conversation between ACI Africa Secretary General Ali Tounsi; Gebr. Heinemann Area Manager for Middle East and Africa Harald Suenner; and Japan Tobacco International Vice President Global Travel Retail Claudio Ferreira.
Following this, ‘The India Effect’ will highlight the influence of Indian travellers on the MEA market, with perspectives from BBM Travel Retail CEO Pooja Padmanabhan Bommidala; Muscat Duty Free CEO Renat Rozpravka; and Cococart COO Mudit Srivastava.
The final session, ‘Travel Takeaway’, will reveal key aviation trends, covering route expansion, booking patterns, infrastructure projects and economic levers driving tourism.
The MEADFA Conference has secured strong industry backing, with Avolta hosting the Gala Dinner, Heinemann Middle East Africa providing the Welcome Cocktail, and lunches supported by Lagardère Travel Retail and Mazaya.
Chkoudra, Hama Gulf, JT International, ARMAF and Al Haramain have joined as Diamond Partners, while Platinum Partners include ARI Middle East, Gulf Beverages, Imperial Brands, DFP World and MMI.
Supporting the event as Gold Partners are Aphrodite Sàrl, Bahrain Duty Free, Blue Gulf Marketing, House of Grapes, IDF, Kreol, Pernod Ricard, Scent of Africa and Suntory Global Spirits.
The conference coffee breaks are sponsored by Loacker, with Store Makers, Seeberger, Ahmed Al Maghribi Perfumes and Oriental General Trading as additional sponsors.
Media partners include The Moodie Davitt Report, Duty Free News International, Global Travel Retail Magazine and TRBusiness.
MEADFA President Abdeslam Agzoul said, “As this year’s event draws closer, it gives me great pleasure to be able to share details on the packed programme we’ve crafted for delegates joining us in Dubai.
“Each session will be of great value, and we have worked hard to ensure that the learnings offered throughout the week will be both comprehensive and relevant to all professionals attending.”
TFWA President Philippe Margueritte added: “We are once again very pleased to be working with MEADFA. Looking at the programme that has been put together for this year’s event fills me with confidence that this edition will be both enjoyable and productive, leaving delegates with many valuable learnings to take back to their business.” ✈
