Founder-Led Retail Leasing, Site Selection & Tenant Representation For Brands Across The GCC, Middle East And Global Markets

The Right Location Can Define The Success Of The Brand

A prime location can create a competitive advantage, transform a brand's visibility, customer reach and commercial performance. But securing the right site requires more than identifying vacant space. RCD represents retailers and brands throughout the location search and leasing process, combining retail location strategy, landlord access, site evaluation and commercial negotiation to identify opportunities that fit the brand operationally, commercially and strategically. From flagship stores and first-to-market locations to regional rollout programmes, RCD connects brands directly with landlords, developers and decision-makers and helps turn the right opportunity into the right deal.

Discuss Your Location Requirements

What Are Some Of The Decisions That Shape A Successful Retail Location?

High footfall or a prestigious address does not automatically make a location right for every brand. Successful site selection requires understanding the customer, catchment, adjacencies, visibility, accessibility, unit configuration and commercial economics behind each opportunity.

  • Which Destinations Reach The Right Customers?

    Identify the malls, high streets, mixed-use developments and retail destinations whose catchments and positioning align with the brand.

  • Where Within The Destination Should The Brand Sit?

    Assess frontage, visibility, floor, access, neighbouring brands, anchors and customer movement to determine whether the specific unit supports the concept.

  • Does The Unit Work Operationally?

    Evaluate size, configuration, ceiling heights, servicing, utilities, access and other physical requirements before progressing an opportunity.

  • Are The Commercial Terms Sustainable?

    Consider rent, service charges, turnover rent, fit-out periods, contributions, incentives and occupancy costs against the location's commercial potential.

  • What Can Be Negotiated Beyond The Headline Rent?

    Evaluate CAPEX contributions, landlord works, rent-free periods, fit-out support, exclusivity, payment structures and other terms that can materially change the economics of the deal.

  • How Does This Location Support The Wider Portfolio?

    Ensure each store strengthens the brand's broader market positioning and rollout strategy rather than simply filling another unit.

A Prime Location Can Give Your Brand A Competitive Advantage For Future Expansion

What Our Retail Leasing & Site Selection Consulting Includes

  • Retail Location Strategy

    We define the destination types, catchments, locations and unit characteristics that best align with the brand's customer, positioning, format and commercial objectives.

  • Prime Site Identification & Opportunity Sourcing

    RCD uses its landlord, developer and market network to identify suitable opportunities, including locations that may not yet be widely marketed or publicly available.

  • Retail Tenant Representation

    RCD acts on behalf of the retailer or brand throughout the property search and leasing process, representing the tenant's commercial interests when engaging with landlords, developers and leasing teams.

  • Site Evaluation & Commercial Assessment

    We assess potential opportunities across location, catchment, adjacencies, visibility, configuration, operational suitability and commercial economics before recommending progression.

  • Landlord Engagement & Deal Strategy

    RCD engages directly with landlords and senior decision-makers, positions the brand and develops the commercial strategy for each opportunity before negotiations begin.

  • Commercial Lease Negotiation

    RCD leads the commercial negotiation with landlords on behalf of the brand, negotiating rent, fit-out periods, CAPEX contributions, landlord works, incentives, turnover structures and other key commercial terms to secure the strongest possible deal.

RCD Represents The Brand's Interests From The First Location Search Through To Commercial Agreement

Who We Help

  • International Brands Entering New Markets

    For brands seeking their first location in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, GCC or other international markets, RCD provides local access, location strategy and landlord representation from initial search through to commercial agreement.

  • Established Retailers Expanding Their Portfolios

    For brands already operating within a market, RCD identifies additional destinations, cities and opportunities that strengthen portfolio coverage and support sustainable rollout.

  • Brands Seeking Flagship Locations

    For concepts where the first or next location must make a statement, RCD identifies and pursues high-profile opportunities aligned with the brand's positioning, operational requirements and commercial objectives.

  • Retail, F&B, Leisure, Wellness & Lifestyle Concepts

    RCD works across multiple consumer-facing sectors, adapting site criteria and commercial strategy to the specific requirements of each concept and format.

Bringing Premium Brands To Premium Destinations

We Know The Landlords. We Know The Destinations. We Open The Door. We Secure The Location. We Negotiate The Deal.

  • Our Markets

    13+ Regional & International Markets

  • Our Network

    25 Landlords | 170+ Retail Destinations

  • Our Clients

    Fashion | Hospitality | Luxury | F&B | Wellness | FEC

About The Founders

Youssef and James bring a combined 25+ years of retail and landlord experience across the Middle East, helping to shape some of the region's most recognised retail destinations and brands.

  • Youssef Bounaga

    Co-Founder

  • 600+ Stores Managed

    Together, they have led leasing for 600+ stores at GMG (including Nike) and held senior roles at Emaar and Aldar.

  • James Poole

    Co-Founder

Frequently Asked Questions

What Does A Retail Leasing Consultant Do?

A retail leasing consultant represents a retailer or brand when identifying, evaluating and securing commercial locations. This can include location strategy, site sourcing, landlord engagement, commercial assessment and lease negotiation.

RCD combines these services with direct access to landlords, developers and decision-makers across the markets in which its clients are expanding.

What Is Retail Tenant Representation?

Retail tenant representation is the process of representing the retailer or occupier, rather than the landlord, during the search for and negotiation of retail premises.

RCD acts on behalf of retailers and brands, helping identify appropriate locations, evaluate opportunities, engage landlords and negotiate commercial terms aligned with the tenant's objectives.

This terminology is particularly common in markets such as the United States, although the underlying service is relevant to brands expanding internationally.

This FAQ is important. It gives us an extremely clean exact-match opportunity around retail tenant representation, which our SEMrush research showed has particularly strong US search demand.

How Does RCD Find Prime Retail Locations?

RCD combines active market intelligence with established relationships across landlords, developers and leasing decision-makers to identify locations that fit the brand’s customer, positioning, operational requirements and commercial model.

Through these relationships, RCD often hears about prime retail opportunities before they are publicly marketed or widely available, giving clients earlier access to sought-after locations and the ability to engage before wider competition.

Each opportunity is then assessed across location, visibility, adjacencies, unit configuration, commercial terms and long-term strategic fit before RCD recommends whether to proceed.

Can RCD Help Us Find Retail Locations In Dubai, The UAE Or Saudi Arabia?

Yes. RCD has particularly strong landlord and developer relationships across the UAE, Saudi Arabia and wider GCC and supports retailers seeking locations across major malls, mixed-use developments, lifestyle destinations and other retail environments.

Can RCD Help Us Find Retail Locations Across Global Markets?

Yes. RCD's location and expansion capabilities extend beyond the GCC and Middle East.

Where a brand is expanding internationally, RCD can use its global network and market relationships to identify relevant opportunities and coordinate market, landlord and partner engagement across multiple territories.

Does RCD Only Introduce Brands To Landlords?

No. RCD's role goes beyond introductions.

We help define the location strategy, identify suitable opportunities, assess individual sites, engage landlords, evaluate commercial terms and support negotiations through to commercial agreement.

Can RCD Negotiate Rent And Other Lease Terms?

Yes. RCD can negotiate the commercial terms of a new retail lease, including rent, service charges, fit-out periods, CAPEX contributions, landlord works, incentives and other relevant commercial provisions.

For rent reviews, renewals and renegotiations involving an existing lease, RCD also provides a dedicated Commercial Negotiations service.

When Should A Brand Engage A Retail Site Selection Consultant?

Ideally before approaching individual landlords or committing to a specific destination.

Engaging RCD early allows the brand to define its location criteria, understand the relevant market and landlord landscape, compare opportunities and establish a commercial strategy before negotiations begin.

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