Industry experts at the inaugural Middle East Retail & Downstream Conference (MRDC) concurred that sustainability and innovation must go to the core of all fuel retail and downstream operations across the region.

Panellists from leading fuel retail drivers such as ENOC, ADNOC Distribution, Emarat, Bahrain Petroleum Company (BAPCO), Oman Oil Marketing Company (OOMCO), and various other leading fuel stores in the region, dealt with industry obstacles such as boosting gas demand, minimal margins, variation of oil costs, regulations & policies, the change in client demands and the future of the traditional service station.

Zaid Alqufaidi, Managing Director, ENOC Retail and conference Chair, talked about the UAE's lead across the region in lifting fuel aids and the effects of deregulated oil prices on ENOC's operations, and how it has actually increased development in regards to the growth of its retail network.

Alqufaidi said, "Over the last six decades, we have actually witnessed a major change in the country's framework that dictated a need for the industry to develop. We've additionally observed a void out there for industry platforms that shed light on obstacles and chances in the gas retail sector. Because of this, ENOC partnered with Conference Connection to organize the very first version of MRDC. The meeting was a terrific success as it brought light on the global patterns and dynamics of fuel retail by combining leading industry experts from worldwide to share their useful understandings."

Throughout the two-day seminar, Taher Diab, Senior Director of Approach & Preparation, from the Supreme Council of Power, shared their plan of owning lasting development in the region and its objective to enhance using tidy energy resources in Dubai by 7% by 2020, 25 per cent by 2030 and 75 per cent by 2050 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), biofuel, powered stations and electric vehicles.

Various other key subjects of conversations consisted of Dubai's green mobility initiative - a government technique to advertise crossbreed and electrical automobiles, fads in global gas retail business and equipping digital transformation for forecourt and retail procedures. The seminar additionally highlighted the importance of technologies to grow in the fuel retail business and add to its sustainable development.

Zaid Alqufaidi additionally included: "It is necessary not to take a look at fuel retail as just a business - it is a key facilities for the nation, and we need it to keep pace with the advancement of the nation. The industry has actually gradually progressed to use 'smart' remedies to improve client experience. Because of this, we identified sustainability, innovation and technology as key drivers that have actually contributed to broadening our network operations.

While the first day of the conference focused on key patterns and innovation in fuel retail, day two emphasised on the evolution of non-fuel business; the corner store version, growth of food & drinks and restaurant business in solution terminals and customer patterns and practices in connection with filling station forecourts. The seminar finished with a check out to ENOC's and the UAE's initial solar powered service station at Dubai Internet City, where all delegates reached see the current smart innovations on site.

The MRDC 2017, part of the Middle East Petroleum & Gas (MPGC) week, was held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and was opened up by His Excellency Dr. Matar Hamed Al Neyadi, Undersecretary of UAE Ministry of Power, and chaired by Zaid Alqufaidi, Managing Director of ENOC's retail business.