It’s no easy task placing Dubai on the world map


January 26, 2016 | By RetailME Bureau

When I arrived in Dubai all those years ago, I certainly did not envisage that I would still be here, over 31 years later, but I’m glad to still be here.

I remember Dubai as a very different city back in 1983, and the same could be said of the Dubai International Airport (DIA). Prior to the opening of Dubai Duty Free (DDF), the retail offer at the airport consisted of a group of independent retailers, many replicating each other’s product offer.

The brief to the original team was to develop a retail operation that would rival the best in the world – one that reflected the Government of Dubai’s ambitious plans for the emirate to become an aviation hub.

December 20, 1983 was a momentous day, one that I remember well. That’s the day DDF opened for business. There was a tremendous buzz of excitement among airport employees, passengers and, of course, the DDF management and staff.

On that first day our sales reached $44,000, and in our first year of business our turnover was $20 million. Despite such a positive start to the business, I don’t think anyone at the time foresaw just how successful the operation would become one day, and the role that it would play in helping to put Dubai on the world map.
Colm McLoughlin is the executive vice chairman of the Dubai Duty Free and chairman of the Dubai Duty Free Foundation.

Previous Article Next Article

SHARE

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE /



Strong festive sales, operational efficiencies and digital focus helped Lulu chart 7.3% 

Continue Reading

May 19, 2025 | By RetailME Bureau

MENA’s retail pioneer Union Coop has further solidified its retail presence in 

Continue Reading

May 5, 2025 | By RetailME Bureau

As the demand for healthier food choices surges, ROOTS Food is leading 

Continue Reading

April 10, 2025 | By Anurima Das

A new chapter unfolds for the leading tech-driven, hyperlocal e-commerce company, Rabbit, 

Continue Reading

April 8, 2025 | By RetailME Bureau

Lulu Retail, the GCC’s retail powerhouse, has reported a transformative FY 2024, 

Continue Reading

February 11, 2025 | By RetailME Bureau
Lulu and MoIAT join hands to promote UAE-made products

The Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) in cooperation with Lulu 

Continue Reading

December 6, 2024 | By RetailME Bureau
Sunil Kumar, CEO, Spinneys

Starting as a shelf packer in 1994, Sunil Kumar saw his way 

Continue Reading

October 29, 2024 | By RetailME Bureau
Sunil Kumar and Debashish Mukherjee at MRF 2024

What does it take to sustain profitable growth in the post-IPO phase? 

Continue Reading

October 23, 2024 | By Anurima Das

Mahalle began its operations in 2022 as an “Authentic Turkish Grocery in 

Continue Reading

October 7, 2024 | By Anurima Das
Naresh Kumar Bhawnani, Founder & Chairman, West Zone Group

“Retail is a people’s business. When building a retail brand or the 

Continue Reading

October 3, 2024 | By RetailME Bureau
Sunil Kumar, CEO, Spinneys

From being one of the first retailers in Dubai to ban single-use 

Continue Reading

October 1, 2024 | By RetailME Bureau
Walid Shabana, Co-founder & CTO, Rabbit

For starters, Rabbit is a growing e-commerce grocery platform in Egypt always 

Continue Reading

September 30, 2024 | By RetailME Bureau




Download Images RetailME Magazine