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A strong number of beauty, hair, spa and aesthetics professionals from across the GCC came together on 19 May 2026 for the inaugural online edition of the Professional Beauty GCC Business Summit, with 1,827 recorded virtual attendees taking part in the one-day industry initiative designed to connect, educate and support business growth across the regional beauty sector.
Marking the first time the summit was delivered in a fully online format, the initiative was developed by Professional Beauty GCC in strategic partnership with TishTash Communications and brought together professionals from across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman for a full day of live sessions, expert discussions, and interactive industry-led content.
Taking place during a period of ongoing regional market change, the programme explored how businesses across the beauty, spa, hair and aesthetics sectors are adapting to evolving consumer behaviour, shifting service expectations and increasing competition. Key themes included leadership, crisis resilience, client retention, commercial growth strategies and the growing role of digital visibility in driving bookings and business performance.
Across the day, attendees accessed a structured programme of Main Stage talks, Workshops, Masterclasses and brand showcases, all designed to deliver practical, actionable insights that businesses can implement immediately.
Attendees also engaged directly with speakers throughout the day via live Q&A sessions, strengthening interaction, discussion and real-time knowledge exchange. A dedicated “Showcase” platform further enabled brands to present their products and services to the wider industry audience.
More than a traditional online conference, the Professional Beauty GCC Business Summit positioned itself as an industry development platform focused on strengthening collaboration, supporting professional education and enabling long-term business growth across the region.
Key highlights
Main Stage
- The Main Stage opened with “Stronger Together – Welcome to the Professional Beauty GCC Business Summit”, led by Andrew Green, General Manager – Professional Beauty Dubai, and Natasha Hatherall-Shawe, Founder & CEO – TishTash Group
- Dawn Kubicek, CEO & Founder – Leaders in Digital, explored AI-driven visibility and how beauty brands are being discovered through evolving digital search behaviour
- Dr. Angela Thomas, CEO & Founder – Angel Success Consulting, shared insights on crisis leadership, resilience and client retention in uncertain markets
- Tara Rose Kidd, Founder & Director, Tara Rose Salon, explored how salon, spa, and clinic owners can successfully expand into markets such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Qatar.
- A regional salon panel featured Asma Mohammad Bin Salmeen (86 Beauty Lounge), Liza Harper (Lunatic Fringe by The Boys Salon), Tara Rose Kidd (Tara Rose Salon) and Ruksher Malik (Pastels Salon), discussing real-world business adaptation
- Katie Godfrey, Business Strategist, Author & Podcaster – Katie Godfrey Coaching FZCO, delivered strategies for staying fully booked and commercially resilient
- Nicki Wilson, MD – Genie Recruitment, and Andrew Green discussed talent trends, recruitment challenges and workforce shifts across the region
- A clinical resilience panel featuring Dr. Ljudmila Vukosavljević (Al Das Longevity Clinic), Mona Mirza (Biolite Clinic) and Paulina Mercader Aguilar (Longevity Suite GCC), moderated by Tajana Trtanj (EPI Consulting), explored decision-making under pressure
- The day concluded with reflections from Andrew Green, Laica Hamilton and Maricel Macalino, reinforcing industry connection and continued momentum
Workshops & Masterclasses
- The Workshops and Masterclass programmes delivered a blend of practical business education and advanced technical training for salon, spa and clinic professionals across the GCC. Workshops focused on immediate business application, covering topics such as sales performance, client retention, conversion optimisation, leadership, team management and operational efficiency, alongside wellbeing-led content exploring nervous system regulation and resilience in high-pressure environments. The Masterclasses provided hands-on technical education across hair, nails, lashes and skincare, including Polygel application, Builder Gel sculpting, Russian manicure techniques and acrylic ombré, as well as humidity-proof styling for regional conditions and advanced treatment techniques designed to enhance precision, performance and client results.
All sessions were designed to support professional upskilling and strengthen service offerings across the GCC beauty industry. For those who were unable to join live, the recorded sessions are available for viewing here:
https://pbgccsummit.showhub.live/whatson
For more information, please visit the Professional Beauty GCC Business Summit website – https://professionalbeauty.me.