The Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority (Monsha’at) has partnered with the RLC Global Forum as a key entrepreneurship partner to launch NextGen Retail Challenge, the first industry-led national initiative of its kind.
The challenge, launched in collaboration with Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University (PNU), is designed to strengthen the long-term standing of Saudi Arabia’s retail sector as a strategic economic engine.
Monsha’at will present the outcomes of the program, which are designed to develop entrepreneurs’ leadership and knowledge skills in this vital sector, during the next edition of the forum, scheduled for early February 2026 in Riyadh.
The initiative aligns with Monshaat’s commitment to supporting innovation and accelerating business growth by equipping participants with practical tools and global expertise to enhance their competitiveness in a rapidly evolving market.
NextGen Retail Challenge responds to a growing gap between the sector’s expanding scale and complexity and the availability of skilled talent, providing a structured national platform to help shape the industry’s future workforce and leadership pipeline.
Aligning with Saudi Vision 2030 workforce development and economic diversification priorities; the initiative aims to reinforce retail’s role as a leading driver of private-sector growth, innovation, and employment in the Kingdom.
Panos Linardos Chairman – RLC Global Forum
“Retail is one of Saudi Arabia’s most important economic engines, yet its future workforce and leadership pipeline requires deliberate, industry-led action. The NextGen Retail Challenge reflects a shared commitment by the industry to treat retail as a national economic system and to ensure that future leaders are prepared for its scale, complexity, and strategic importance.”
Dr. Maram Sabri, Director of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, stated that the NextGen Retail Challenge harnesses academic talent to drive retail transformation, fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and practical solutions to develop future-ready leaders for Saudi Arabia’s retail sector.
The RLC Global Forum is a leading global platform that brings together a select group of retail leaders, innovators, and policymakers from around the world to discuss and shape the future of the sector.
