Focus on luxury retail with new Shoptalk Luxe event taking place in January 2026 at Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi

The Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) and Hyve have announced a partnership to launch Shoptalk Luxe, marking the first luxury focussed retail event in the Shoptalk series.

This is set to take place in January 2026 at Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi.

The Shoptalk team has confirmed Chalhoub Group as a launch partner of the event, with more global partners to be announced soon. The three-day event will feature over 180 speakers from leading brands in luxury retail, premium customer experience, and retail technology, attracting more than 2,500 attendees from around the world.

Noura Alfoulathi, Abu Dhabi Investment Office, says: "The retail sector is a key pillar of a resilient, diverse economy, both locally and globally.”

“As consumer habits and expectations continue to evolve, this sector is witnessing a profound transformation in business models, product offerings, and consumer experiences, requiring retailers to adapt and innovate. By hosting this important event, Abu Dhabi stands at the forefront of these developments, poised to lead the dialogue among global industry leaders, innovators, and luxury brands.”

Mark Shashoua, CEO at Hyve, says: “Abu Dhabi is the leading destination for global luxury retail in the Middle East and it was therefore a clear destination for the expansion of Shoptalk. Our partnership with ADIO will enable us to maximise the launch to create a truly unmissable event.”

Sophie Wawro, President at Shoptalk, comments: “Today’s consumers expect an elevated, personalised experience across all touchpoints. As the bar for customer service, personalization, and seamless experiences continues to rise, Shoptalk Luxe is here to help retailers at all levels stay ahead.”

“Shoptalk Luxe builds on Shoptalk's reputation for bringing together the retail industry’s most innovative minds and influential voices. We are delighted to be partnering with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office as our Host City Partner to bring this exciting next chapter for Shoptalk to Abu Dhabi in 2026.”

Shoptalk Europe 2025

RTIH is a Shoptalk Europe 2025 media partner.

Visitors to the show, which will take place in Barcelona, Spain on 2nd to 4th June, will be able to pick up a free bumper edition of RTIH magazine.

We are currently offering the following advertising opportunity for this: a three page promotional article in the magazine, alongside a full page advertisement.

If you would like to appear in this edition of RTIH magazine, please complete the below form and we will get back to you asap.