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Dubai Duty Free
CELEBRATING
the Irish Connections
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There’s more to celebrating all things Irish than simply raising a glass on St Patrick’s Day. With a growing expatriate presence in the UAE, there are close and historic ties between Ireland and Dubai.
DUBAI DUTY FREE is a world’s leading company with strong Irish connections:
When one speaks about the success of the duty free industry, the first name that comes to mind is Colm McLoughlin. The Galway man has been instrumental in positioning Dubai Duty Free at the top of the global duty-free ladder. From US$20 million sales in the first year of its operations in 1983 to US$2.029 billion in 2019, Dubai Duty Free has cemented its status as the leading airport retailer in the world.
It opened for business on 20th December 1983, following an agreement between the Dubai Government and Aer Rianta. A tenman team from Aer Rianta were given six months to set up the new operation, which replaced a series of small locally run retail outlets at the airport.
Colm McLoughlin, former General Manager at Shannon Duty Free, was asked to remain in Dubai at the helm of the new operation. He, along with George Horan and John Sutcliffe who were also part of the original team, remained in Dubai and became known as “The Irish Trinity”.
Colm is the current Executive Vice Chairman & CEO of Dubai Duty Free and reports directly to H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman of Dubai Duty Free. In 2019, the operation reached record sales of US$2.029 billion, making it the single largest airport retailer in the world. The award-winning operation covers over 40,000 square metres of key retail space at Dubai International (DXB) and Al Maktoum International (AMIA).
Over the past 38 years, Colm has been an integral part of the Irish community in the UAE and as a result of his success as a business leader, has greatly enhanced the reputation of Ireland and the Irish in the UAE.
2020 was an extremely challenging year for the global travel retail industry and those challenges, which included the closure of DXB for three months and the continued
Colm McLoughlin Executive Vice Chairman & CEO of Dubai Duty Free
HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum and Colm McLoughlin with the record tenth Frontier ‘Airport Retailer of the Year’ award Rory McIlroy and Colm McLoughlin at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open 2016
Jim Sheridan with Breeda & Colm McLoughlin
Dubai Duty Free shopping complex in Concourse C
The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships 2021
Re-opening of Dubai Duty Free in Concourse B
closure of AMIA, are reflected in Dubai Duty Free’s sales of US$697 million, which is 65% down on the previous year. Yet, despite the challenges and the drop in revenue, Dubai Duty Free managed to transform and reinvent its business to maximise its performance and continued to achieve a number of highlights during the year.
As a result of all of this, Dubai Duty Free returned to profitability in January 2021 and expects to close the year with sales of over US$700 million. Golf and Racing on Double Success Sport is a major catalyst in strengthening the link between Ireland and Dubai and with sports sponsorship an integral part of Dubai Duty Free’s marketing, it allows the brand to reach a global audience via the media exposure and television coverage that goes with each of the tournaments and events the company is involved with.
The world of professional golf and horse racing came together in Ireland when the two exciting events – the Dubai Duty Free
Dubai Duty Free shopping complex in Concourse C
Irish Derby and Dubai Duty Free Irish Open were both hailed a success.
The Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby has grown beyond recognition since the airport retailer took on the role of title sponsor in 2008. It has become one of the premier races in the global calendar and has a total prize fund of €1 million.
“We have been the title sponsor of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby since 2008 but have been working with the Curragh Racecourse, supporting them, and sponsoring other races at the track for 20 years now. Our relationship with the Curragh began at a chance meeting between myself and the late Michael Osborne at Gatwick airport and that longstanding relationship Curragh is important and allows us to continue to promote our brand and the city of Dubai through our sponsorship of this prestigious race.”
During its tenure as title sponsor, Dubai Duty Free has always been keen to have activations off the track. Over the years the company has supported many Irish charities through direct donations and to fund-raising events such as the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Charity Ball at the K Club. Charities that have benefited from these efforts include Autism Ireland, the Jack & Jill Foundation and Sensational Kids. Dubai Duty Free also worked with Kildare businesses and traders in a bid to involve local people in the festival as part of its
community drive around the race meeting.
Meanwhile, the retail operation took on the sponsorship of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open in 2015, and with Rory McIlroy as host, has helped restore the status of this major sporting event.
“Our decision to sponsor the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open came at a good time, with the Rory Foundation stepping in as host. With our involvement, the prize money increased initially from €2 million to €4 million within a couple of years. So there was a real concerted effort from ourselves, the Rory Foundation and the European Tour to bring the tournament back to its former glory. Then, with the tournament becoming part of the Rolex Series in 2017, with prize money of US$7 million, the tournament really elevated its position as one of the key events on the European Tour calendar. We are very happy with its progression.”
Already one of golf’s oldest and most historic events, having been played since 1927, it became part of the European Tour’s prestigious eight-event Rolex Series in 2017 which saw the prize fund increase to a whopping US$7 million, making it one of the biggest events on the Race to Dubai schedule. Following the turbulence brought to the sporting world due to Covid-19, the past two years have seen the tournament played in Galgorm Northern Ireland in 2020 and in Mount Juliet in Kilkenny in 2021, with reduced prize funds. The tournament will return to Mount Juliet next year with prize money of US$6 million.
Dubai Duty Free shopping complex in Concourse C
Dubai Duty Free Executive Vice Chairman & CEO, Colm McLoughlin along with Sinead El Sibai, SVP Marketing presenting the trophies to the winning connections of Sovereign
Despite the challenges brough the global pandemic which has greatly affected its retail operation, Dubai Duty free has remained steadfast in his support of its sponsorships in Ireland.
A Different Ball Game Back on its own base, Dubai Duty Free supports many sporting events, but it is perhaps the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships that takes the lion’s share in terms of investment. The tournament is owned and organised by Dubai Duty Free and held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The 2021 Championships which celebrated its 29th year in March was played behind closed doors due to Covid-19, however it was watched by a potential 1 billion people and generated US$1.5 billion worth of TV coverage, of which US$586.7 million was for the Dubai Duty Free brand alone. The WTA week was won by two-time Grand Slam winner and former World No.1 Garbiñe Muguruza, while Wild Card entrant, Aslan Karatsev, won his very first ATP title.
Culture Crossing In such a short period of time, the Dublin Arabic Film Festival (DAFF), which is organised by Oscar-nominated Director Jim Sheridan and presented by Dubai Duty
Free, effectively established itself as an exceptional event which showcases some of the best feature films from the Arab world.
“Through our sponsorship of the Dubai Arabic Film Festival, we have seen that film is a great medium that crosses cultural divides and creates greater understanding and awareness.”
The airport retailer has been the presenting sponsor of Dublin Arabic Film Festival since its inception in 2014 when legendary actor, Omar Sharif officially opened the festival.
Dubai Duty Free Keeps Irish Eyes Smiling Colm has supported, where possible through his work, the promotion of Irish products at Dubai Duty Free.
In 2019, Dubai Duty Free’s business with Irish companies, specifically Irish whiskies and other products such as Baileys, Butler’s chocolates, Kerrygold butter and cheese, reached US$30.2 million.
The Irish Village Colm is also the man behind the creation of The Irish Village, which is looked upon as a small piece of Ireland in the heart of Dubai. He initiated and developed the bar and restaurant which includes ‘The Ballinasloe Post Office’ as a nod to his hometown.
Designed in the form of a typical Irish village street, its authenticity comes from the use of Irish materials, such as Liscannor stone, and craftsmanship used in its construction, all of which have been imported from Ireland.
Celebrating 25 years of award-winning hospitality, since opening in October 1996, an Irish Village opened in Studio One Hotel two years ago. Its rich wooden interiors, big terrace and a waterfall keeps its link to the original in Garhoud. The outlet has quickly become a favourite for resident of Arabian Ranches and surrounding communities.
And recently, The Irish Village opened its doors to Expo 2020 visitors on 1st October 2021. The Irish Village is conveniently located in Jubilee Park, which is a main hub for entertainment for the six-month event. The look and feel of The Irish Village Garhoud have been recreated down to the weathervane on top of the clock and the Ballinasloe Post Office. Guests can enjoy sitting outdoors on the terrace listening to “Graham Mills”, a traditional Irish musician who has been flown in especially for the event – you can raise your glass to the world.
Through its Leisure Division, Dubai Duty Free also own and manage the Century Village, the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium and the five-star Jumeirah Creekside Hotel at the Aviation Club.
Of the senior management team at Dubai Duty Free, three are Irish, while the two Irish Village bars and restaurants employ a further 16 Irish staff.
