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Based in Dubai / Serving the GCC

Commercial strategy for brands entering and growing across the GCC.

Dubai-based senior advisory on GCC market entry, pricing, margins, retail partnerships, operations and customer experience, grounded in 28 years of leadership across the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

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Imad Saade, GCC commercial and retail advisor

Harvey Nichols DubaiBloomingdale's DubaiGaleries Lafayette Doha28 years across four GCC markets

Advisory services

Commercial judgment for decisions that carry real cost.

Artemis works with international brands, founders, retailers and investors who need a clear position before they commit to a market, partner or operating plan.

GCC market entry and expansion

Choose the right market, route and sequence before committing capital or valuable introductions.

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Commercial readiness, pricing and margins

Turn a strong product into a business that a serious regional buyer can assess and trade with.

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Distribution and retail partnerships

Define the partner profile, economics and negotiation position before opening discussions.

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Retail operations and performance

Convert targets into daily actions, management ownership and a repeatable operating rhythm.

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Customer experience and clienteling

Find where service, conversion, retention and client relationships are being weakened.

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Selected work and evidence

Proof is strongest when the situation, work and result are clear.

Client names remain confidential where required. Advisory assignments and employment results are labelled separately.

Advisory / Luxury accessories / GCC

Buyer readiness before regional outreach

Situation: An internationally visible accessories brand needed stronger commercial preparation before approaching GCC buyers.
Work: Positioning, product priorities, GCC pricing, retailer margins, MOQ, production lead times, packaging, SKUs, barcodes and buyer materials.
Decision or result: A management-ready buyer file and action tracker that made every commercial gap and decision visible before outreach.

Advisory / International brand / Market entry

Testing whether the proposition was ready for the GCC

Situation: The business needed a clear view of whether its product, price and operating model could support a credible regional launch.
Work: Collection relevance, craftsmanship, production capacity, retailer economics, partner routes and launch requirements.
Decision or result: A phased entry recommendation defining the position, partner profile and commercial work required before launch.

Operating leadership / Luxury retail / Qatar

Closing a performance deficit during a critical trading period

Situation: A complex department store operation entered the World Cup period with a commercial deficit and intense execution pressure.
Work: Commercial priorities, floor execution, department focus, management rhythm and team accountability.
Decision or result: The deficit was closed and the business finished the period 20% ahead, with performance managed across the full store operation.

Career record

2012-2017
Harvey Nichols DubaiDeputy Store Manager
Luxury retail operations, commercial performance and customer experience.
2017-2019
Bloomingdale's DubaiStore Director
Large-scale trading leadership, including AED 21m delivered in three days in November 2018.
2020-2023
Galeries Lafayette DohaStore Director
A 14,500 sqm operation and the closure of a commercial deficit to finish the World Cup period 20% ahead.
2023-Today
Artemis Commercial AdvisorySenior GCC Commercial and Retail Advisor
Market entry, commercial readiness, retail operations and customer experience across the GCC.

About Imad Saade

Operating experience before advisory opinion.

I have spent 28 years leading luxury and premium retail businesses across the GCC. My roles have included Harvey Nichols Dubai, Bloomingdale's Dubai and Galeries Lafayette Doha, with responsibility for commercial performance, operations, teams, brands and customer experience.

AED 550mAnnual gross sales managed within a single luxury department store operation

2mAnnual customer visits across a complex luxury department store environment

14,500 sqmCommercial and operational leadership across a major luxury department store

20% aheadWorld Cup trading period result after closing the commercial deficit

28 years Luxury and premium retail leadership4 GCC markets UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait3 major stores Harvey Nichols, Bloomingdale's and Galeries LafayetteLinkedIn Top Voice UAE / 2024-25-26

Selected professional references are available during qualified engagement discussions.

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Selected insights

Commercial thinking, not a social media wall.

Start with selected work, then explore the viral collection or the complete searchable archive when you need more depth.

Featured / Retail Leadership

Retail decisions should not be made by people who do not spend time on the floor!

This is one of the most damaging patterns in retail. The further decisions move away from the floor, the worse they usually become. At the head office level, things often sound logical. Reporting lines are changed, extra layers are added, and store issues are interpreted through...

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Post / Retail Leadership

Artemis / GCC Commercial Advisory

Make the commercial decision before the market makes it for you.

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