Facing the Retail Apocalypse: Majid Al Futtaim’s Digital Transformation (A)

In just a few decades Majid Al Futtaim (“the Group”) had established an empire boasting major shopping malls, successful retail chains and popular entertainment centres across the Middle East, Asia, and North Africa (MENA) region. By 2020, however, its competitive landscape was changing fast, with diverse players striving to define the future of retail. Traditional powerhouses such as Walmart, with their extensive physical presences, and tech titans such as Amazon, rich with consumer data and technological prowess, were changing the way consumers shopped and interacted with brands. Whose business model would triumph in the dynamic environment of the Middle East? And how should traditional companies such as Majid Al Futtaim respond to the new landscape?