Dubai Duty Free reflects on 40 years of success

and experiences and excellent one-stop connectivity to the Middle East.”

Travellers from the GCC can connect to the Caribbean island of Barbados via key gateways in London, New York City, Toronto, Amsterdam and Panama City. The island has robust air connectivity with many of the world’s major cities, with a view to expanding this in the near term.

VISIT STAND AM1552

HyperSpace is a pioneer in inventing, building and operating next-generation attractions that make the most of the rapidly evolving digital world. Located in Wafi Mall, AYA is a 40,000-squarefoot experiential entertainment park, which invites guests to explore an interactive world through 12 zones. Travellers can wander through observatories full of stars, stroll through blooming gardens or cross rivers.

Adding to its portfolio of futureforward entertainment parks, House of Hype from HyperSpace will bring a world of fashion, games, NFTs and everything in between to Dubai.

VISIT STAND ME3010 such as the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, which generates over US$1 billion in TV exposure for Dubai.

As one of the largest duty free operations in a single airport in the world, Dubai Duty Free covers a total retail area of 40,000 square metres across Dubai International Airport and Al Maktoum International Airport. McLoughlin said: “Over the past 40 years, it has become increasingly important that the entire journey is enjoyable for the passenger, and a key part of this journey is spent at Dubai Duty Free.”

During the session, McLoughlin was presented with the Pearl Award, a prestigious award created especially for the 30th edition of ATM.

Authority, which was contracted by the Dubai Government to launch a new duty free operation at Dubai International Airport. He has remained at Dubai Duty Free since and, in 2011, became Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the organisation and its subsidiary businesses. Under his leadership, Dubai Duty Free grew from a US$20 million company in 1984 to a US$1.74 billion operation last year, with 2023 sales expected to reach over US$2 billion.

Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of Dubai Duty Free, was presented with the Pearl Award at ATM yesterday

ATM yesterday, helm of the organisation. McLoughlin stated that Dubai Duty Free has helped to strengthen the emirate’s reputation as a leading international tourist destination and has raised the city’s profile through the promotion of international events

Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market, said: “This is a fitting tribute to a stalwart in the tourism industry and someone who resonates with many of the ideologies behind the award, including wisdom, enlightenment and longevity.”

McLoughlin arrived in the UAE in July 1983 as part of the consultancy team from Aer Rianta, the Irish Airport

McLoughlin said: “I’m absolutely thrilled and excited to receive this award and I would like to thank the team and staff at Dubai Duty Free and, of course, our chairman HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum.

“Looking to the future, it is important that we keep on evolving and moving forward, delivering a better tomorrow for travellers. We need to ensure that we continue to raise the benchmark when it comes to customer experiences while also adopting sustainable practices which protect and future-proof our environment.”