Page 31 - #189 March 2024

A Global Leader Dubai International Airport, Dubai, UAE
Dior in Concourse B,

Founded on 20 December 1983, Dubai Duty Free has recently celebrated its forty year
anniversary and in that time it has grown into one of the largest single travel operators
in the world. Here, we sit down with Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman and
CEO of the company to discuss its continuing success and how the business plans to
maintain growth moving forward.

Gucci in Concourse A
Dubai International Airport, Dubai, UAE

ubai Duty Free is the company responsible for duty-free will feature a modern design and the introduction of new concepts such in place to provide passengers with the assistance and first-class service water for irrigation, transitioning to paperless operations through
Doperations at Dubai International Airport and Al Maktoum as the liquor sampling area and self-checkout counters. they feel they deserve. digitalisation and utilising energy-efficient equipment and facilities, to
International Airport and is run by Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Following this, in the middle of 2024, the company will turn its attention The role of social media is a pivotal one for Dubai Duty Free and it name just a few.
Chairman and CEO of Dubai Duty Free, who was previously one of the to the refurbishment of the three Arrivals shops in Dubai International plays a multifaceted role in the business. Its importance extends across All of the elements discussed above have led the brand to being
ten-man team from Aer Rianta, the Irish Airport Authority which was Airport and this project is expected to be finished by the end of the year. various stages of the customer journey, making it a crucial component the successful operation that it is today, but we asked Colm what he
behind the world’s first duty-free airport at Shannon Airport. “Concourse A, consisting of two perfumes and cosmetics shops, of the DDF marketing strategy. They use social platforms as powerful considered the key drivers behind the company’s success to be?
Today the business operates nearly 40,000sq m of retail spaces across including fashion is also set to be refurbished and this will begin in the channels to increase brand awareness and visibility. Through consistent “The growth and development of Dubai Duty Free is due to several
the two airports. At Dubai International Airport for example, they have second quarter of this year and will be finished in early to mid-2025 and engaging content, they are reaching a larger audience, raising brand factors, especially the tremendous support and encouragement that we
shops in Concourses A, B, C and D, Terminal 1 and 3 Arrivals as well as with three new boutiques of major brands. Meanwhile the watches and awareness and building their brand image. have received from the Government of Dubai and in particular from H.H.
Terminal 2 Departures and Arrivals. electronics shops in Concourse B are also lined up for refurbishment “On the sales side, we work with our suppliers to use social media Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation
“The shops within these concourses were built according to specific next year,” McLoughlin explains. as support channels to connect with our audience and showcase Authority and Chairman of Dubai Duty Free,” McLoughlin highlights.
categories, like perfume and cosmetics shops, food plus shops, liquor As we move on to discuss the products on offer across their spaces products, promotions and sales offers. As a dynamic and interactive “Another significant contribution towards our success is the dedication
shops and so on. In recent years we have introduced more high-end and how they maintain their popularity in the market, Colm comments platform, social media helps us to increase visibility, exposure and leads and effort of all our staff. I believe they are the best trained staff in the
luxury shops such as Chanel, Gucci and Louis Vuitton, which are all run that passenger profiles and industry trends are vital in product selection to potential sales opportunities.” world and they deliver the best service in the industry, which is crucial to
by ourselves and manned by our staff, although they are very distinctively and activation. He continues by saying that each and every profile has a Dubai Duty Free also plays its part in the role of sustainability in retail, the success of our business, as are, of course, our customers, who are
branded as a boutique,” McLoughlin highlights. different preference when it comes to brand and product, so they try ensuring it stays abreast of environmental issues and being aware of made up of travellers from all over the globe,” he continues.
In terms of recent openings, in the last quarter of 2023, DDF completed their best to be relevant at any time. In addition, identifying future trends the potential environmental impact of its operation. They are constantly To sum up our time with Colm, we ask him what he feels is the ethos
the first phase of refurbishment at their liquor and tobacco shops in allows them to plan ahead and identifying possible threats allow them to educating and fostering awareness among their team and community of the business as it enters its fifth decade of operation?
Concourse B of Dubai International Airport. Around 700sq m of retail mitigate any negative effects on the business, if there are any. through sustainable initiatives and environmental practices. “To provide customers with a first-class customer service, excellent
space in both the East and West locations of Concourse B was refurbished The company also recognises the importance of brand experience, To this end, they have adopted their own 4R’s principle, which is value for money, a wide range of quality products and a world-class
with an upgraded look and another 700sq m of the liquor shop is due to partnering with brands to produce activations in the shop, be this in- to reduce, reuse, reinvent and recycle. This principle guides various shopping environment. As we look to the future, we want to be
finished between this month and next. The upcoming liquor shops space store or in promo areas. They also have brand ambassadors and experts procedures and practices within the organisation, including recycling recognised as one of the best airport retailers in the world.”

Chanel in Concourse A Chanel in Concourse A Cartier in Concourse B Cartier in Concourse B
Dubai International Airport, Dubai, UAE Dubai International Airport, Dubai, UAE Dubai International Airport, Dubai, UAE Dubai International Airport, Dubai, UAE