This week, a few members of the Walpole team – including myself – are swapping London for Abu Dhabi and Dubai, leading a Walpole member delegation to the UAE for a strategically focused programme of market intelligence, business development, and high-level diplomatic engagement designed to cement British luxury’s position in one of the world’s fastest-growing markets.
The Middle East continues to be crucial opportunity for British luxury, whether that's developing business across the region or welcoming high-spending customers to the UK. The Middle East is one of the world's most dynamic markets, growing at around 8% annually, defying global headwinds through a combination of sophisticated consumer demand, substantial infrastructure investment, and rapidly maturing retail ecosystems. The UAE alone commands 56% of regional luxury spend, while Middle Eastern visitors represent an important inbound tourism segment for the UK; these discerning, high-spending customers have become integral to Britain’s domestic luxury economy.
Working with our partners the Department for Business and Trade UK (DBT), Chalhoub Group, and Etihad Airways, we’ve structured a programme that directly addresses the commercial and cultural dynamics shaping luxury in the region. We’re enormously grateful to all of these organisations for their support in advancing British luxury’s presence in this strategically vital region, and I would personally like to thank them for their guidance and support in developing the programme, as well as opportunities for British luxury in the Middle East.
The delegation will participate in the inaugural Shoptalk Luxe in Abu Dhabi, where Walpole President Emeritus, and Managing Director of Harrods, Michael Ward, will speak alongside Walpole members including Elie Barnes, Chief Marketing & Digital Officer at Bremont Watch Company, and industry leaders including Michael Chalhoub, CEO of Chalhoub Group, Imran Amed, Founder & CEO of The Business of Fashion, and Julia Goddard, CEO of Harvey Nichols.
On 27th January, we’re hosting a private dinner for members and partners to examine opportunities for British luxury in the Middle East, joined by HM Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Edward Hobart CMG.
From Abu Dhabi, we move to Dubai for dedicated time with Chalhoub Group – our longstanding strategic partner and the region’s luxury retail powerhouse – beginning with an international media briefing featuring editors from Condé Nast, followed by a deep-dive session on GCC luxury markets and consumer intelligence. A curated retail safari to Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates will allow members to explore the retail landscape and during a private dinner hosted by Chalhoub Group members will be able to spend time with their senior leadership.
In Dubai, we're delighted that we’ll also be joining forces with Altagamma, Walpole’s Italian counterpart, as the organisation presents its latest Global Luxury Consumer Research with BCG, and members will have the opportunity to spend time with their Italian counterparts.
At a moment when geopolitical shifts are reshaping luxury trade flows, this mission offers members commercial insights, strategic partnerships, and cultural intelligence essential for navigating this high-growth market.
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