DDf news
IN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE it was a month of awards and winners at dubai duty Free… RETAILER OF THE YEAR dubai duty Free (ddF) walked away with the ‘Middle East Travel Retailer of the Year’ award, for the thirteenth time, at the recent dFNi asia/ Pacific awards ceremony. The dFNi awards are especially significant as they are based on votes received from industry partners. On line voting forms for the dFNi asia Pacific awards were sent to a special industry ‘academy’ of retailers, suppliers, agents, distributors. accepting the award in Singapore Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman of ddF, thanked HH Sheikh ahmed bin Saeed al Maktoum, President of dubai Civil aviation authority and Chairman of ddF, for his continuing support and said, “We are delighted to receive this recognition for the thirteenth time, the dFNi awards are true industry honours and it is gratifying to know that ddF is consistently seen as the best in the business amongst our peers. We hope to retain this award for many years to come and i would like to thank all of those who voted for ddF.”
OnE sHOT vIcTORY Golfer Fahad al Rajaan recently swung to victory winning the 21st edition of the dubai duty Free Golf Cup at the dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club. Over 100 players, including four past champions; Khalid al Halyan (1994), Craig Mcbride (2002), Francisco Giles (2008) and last year's champion Marino Chiarentin. al Rajaan who was crowned champion after a score of 42 stableford points gave him a one shot victory. "This is my fist win in the game of golf since i started playing 20 years ago!” he said. The battle for the Men’s division was also a closely contested affair. in the end it was alok Pant who was successful over Sfeila on a count-back over the back nine holes. Finishing 2nd runner-up was Peter Stapleton with a solid 40 points. Commenting on the ddF Golf Cup, George Horan, President of ddF said; “This annual event has been running for 21 years and the tournament has grown quite popular with a huge turnout of 107 golfers from different clubs.” Topping the division this year performance and a score of 40 points was J H Mun. The best gross performance of the day came from Creek member and senior golfer, John Fellingham. Fellingham made full advantage of his knowledge of the course and made a solid 35 points to take top prize in the division. Winner of the junior division trophy was dhruv Nair with a winning score of 38 points. in the ladies division Emirates Golf Club member, Soumaya Salem, managed 37 points to finish top of the division. dubai Creek member Vanessa North collected the first runner-up prize and Ji Won bae finished as second runner-up. arshad Waheed showed pin point accuracy to pick up the nearest the pin prize on the par-3 5th. Jamal Saab did the same on the par-3 14th whilst John Fellingham and 2013 dubai Creek Club Champion Ryan Riley picked up the longest drive prizes on the par-4 7th &12th holes.
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dubai VOYaGER
ART pATROns Recognising the role it plays as the founding sponsor of the dubai international Film Festival (diFF), a diamond sponsor of the dubai Community Centre and arts Community (duCTaC), and sponsor of the annual Emirates airline Festival of Literature, ddF was recently honoured as a “Patron of the arts”. The distinction was conferred upon the organization at the fourth edition of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum Patrons of the arts awards. On winning the 'Patron of the arts' award Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman, ddF commented, "We are proud to receive this recognition which acknowledges the support that we give in this important field. dubai has rapidly established a reputation as a centre for artistic achievement and we are delighted to be part of its success." HH Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, deputy Ruler of dubai and Chairman of dubai Media incorporated presented the award to Salah Tahalk, Senior Vice President-Corporate Communications, ddF together with Mohammed ahmed al Murr, Federal National Council Speaker. The first award of its kind, Patrons of the arts awards was launched by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, uaE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of dubai in 2009. it aspires to bring the importance of patronage, whether financial or in-kind, to the forefront, and its role in strengthening the growth of the city’s artistic landscape.