Luxury in the GCC: The Next Phase of the Market

The GCC luxury market is entering a new phase. The early excitement of market opening is giving way to the harder task of building lasting brand equity with an increasingly sophisticated domestic consumer. Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 is reshaping retail and hospitality at pace. The UAE continues to attract global luxury investment while deepening its own consumer culture. Across the region, the balance is shifting from tourist-led spending towards locally rooted brand preference. Focused on consumer dynamics and brand strategy, this session will explore what the GCC luxury consumer looks like in 2027, how local tastes and expectations are evolving, and what it takes to build relevance beyond the transaction. Leaders with deep regional experience will discuss how brand-building in the GCC differs from other markets, where the biggest opportunities in local engagement lie, and what the most successful brands are doing differently.