How do I apply?

Start your entry through the online nomination portal. Select the relevant stream (Marketfront or Backbone), choose a category, complete the required fields, and pay the nomination fee. Each submission is considered a full nomination and will be judged based on the materials provided at the time of submission.

Who can apply?

The Awards are open to retailers, brands, agencies, solution providers and organisations operating in Saudi Arabia. Submissions must be in English. Agencies may submit on behalf of clients, and solution providers may nominate client work but cannot nominate themselves.

Why apply?

• Visibility: Gain promotion across the Retail World Forum and Fast Company Middle East channels.
• Talent: Recognition supports the recruitment and retention of talent.
• Business impact: Awards increase partner opportunities, investor interest and market trust.
• Thought leadership: Access editorial features and potential speaking opportunities across Retail World Forum programming.

How many times can I apply?

You may submit multiple nominations for the same organisation, provided each entry focuses on a distinct campaign, project, or technical deployment. Each category entered requires a separate submission and fee.

How do I write a successful Retail World Awards nomination?

• Lead with the work: Start with the initiative executed in the eligibility window.
• Focus on one initiative per entry.
• Be specific: Describe the idea, channels, platforms, partners and technologies used.
• Demonstrate measurable impact: Provide KPIs such as uplift percentages, revenue, conversions, cost savings, or NPS.
• Connect execution to outcome: Show clear links from challenge to approach, execution and results.
• Explain Saudi relevance: Clarify how the work addresses Saudi market needs, culture or scale.
• Submit completed work: Prototypes or incomplete pilots are ineligible unless they delivered measurable ROI.
• Keep copy concise and evidence-led.

What happens after I apply?

All submissions are reviewed for eligibility and completeness. Eligible entries proceed to editorial evaluation. Shortlisted entrants will be notified in writing. Winners are final and will be announced at the Awards Night on 5 May 2026.

Rules & FAQs  –  Highlights

The Retail World Awards, South Africa Edition are open to:

• Retailers and brands operating in South Africa and across Africa
• E-commerce and omnichannel businesses
• Technology, payments, and retail solution providers
• Agencies submitting on behalf of clients

Unacceptable material
Entries containing hateful, defamatory or plagiarized content, or fabricated or misleading information, are ineligible.

Disqualification
Entries may be disqualified for ineligibility, misrepresentation, fabricated data, or breach of submission requirements. Disqualified entries will not be refunded.

Review process
Submissions are reviewed for eligibility and then independently scored by the Fast Company Middle East editorial. Shortlisted entries will be notified in writing. Winners are final and will be announced at the Awards Night.

Privacy & rights
By submitting, entrants grant the organiser the right to publish, exhibit and promote submitted material for editorial and promotional purposes, with due credit.

Technical note
All submissions must be completed through the online form. Entries sent by email or other methods will not be accepted.

Contact
For nomination support or changes to the primary contact, email: nazia@fastcompanyme.com

How Do I Pay Now and Edit Later?

You may begin an entry, pay the fee, and continue editing until the final deadline:

Steps:

1. Log in to the nomination portal and enter placeholder text in required fields if needed.
2. Proceed to the payment page and complete payment.
3. Do not click “finalise submission.” After payment, you may return to update the entry until the deadline.
4. To edit a paid nomination: Log in → Completed Entries → Edit → Save. No edits are allowed after final deadline.
   
   

Refund & Credit Policy

All nomination fees are non-refundable. In exceptional cases and before the final deadline, a credit toward a future Retail World programme may be considered; refunds are not available. For requests, email: marketing@retailworldforum.com

Contact & Support

For questions about categories, eligibility or the submission portal, contact the Retail World Awards team at: marketing@retailworldforum.com

HOW TO SUBMIT

1. Choose your category
2. Submit your entry via the nomination portal
3. Provide clear details on strategy, execution, and results
4. Highlight measurable impact (revenue, growth, efficiency, CX metrics)
5. Complete payment to confirm your entry

Entries are reviewed only after submission is complete and payment is processed.

WHY THIS MATTERS NOW

Retail in South Africa is being reshaped by:

• Mobile-first commerce
• Informal + formal retail integration
• Rapid urbanisation
• Cross-border retail expansion
• Digital payments and logistics innovation

This is a defining moment for the industry, and the brands leading this transformation should be recognised on a global platform.