Khalid Al Tayer was appointed in 2011 to the role of Chief Executive Officer of Al Tayer Insignia, the Retail business of Al Tayer Group, a multi-division conglomerate based in the UAE. Al Tayer Insignia represents over 60 luxury, lifestyle, beauty and hospitality brands including Harvey Nichols – Dubai, Bloomingdale’s (Dubai and Kuwait City), Armani, Coach, Boucheron, Kiehl’s, and Gap. Macy’s will join the portfolio with its first store outside of the US when it opens in Abu Dhabi at Al Maryah Central. Al Tayer Insignia recently launched its first proprietary luxury and lifestyle ecommerce sites, Ounass.com and Nisnass.com.

Khalid graduated with a Bachelor of Science in entrepreneurship, corporate finance and economics from Babson College in the US in 1999. His first venture in retail began shortly after as co-founder of Makook.com with college classmate Rishi Bojhwani. The internet start-up was launched in July 2000 and provided an online auction platform, similar to that of eBay, to the UAE market. It was a winner at the Dubai Internet City E-Biz Challenge.

In his time at the helm of the retail business, Khalid has spearheaded Joint Venture arrangements with Gucci, Prada, Bulgari, Saint Laurent,ErmenegildoZegna, Jimmy Choo and LoroPiana. Prior to joining Al Tayer Group as Group General Manager in 2005, Khalid worked at McKinsey & Co. and Emirates Financial Services. Khalid currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Central Bank of the UAE and the Board of the Retail Business Group at the Dubai Chamber.