As the closing days of 2017 beckon, Dubai Duty Free can reflect on another busy and successful year that has seen a number of significant developments for the operation. We look back on the highlights of the year so far…

JANUARY

Dubai Duty Free supported the 22nd running of the Dubai Shopping Festival as a Strategic Partner for the thirteenth consecutive year.

FEBRUARY

HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai presented a Certificate of Recognition to Dubai Duty Free during the 10th year anniversary of Dubai Cares.
Dubai Duty Free supported the Omega Dubai Desert Classic which was won for the first time by Spanish player Sergio Garcia.
The 25th Anniversary of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships was won by Elina Svitolina and Andy Murray, who both claimed their first Dubai title.

MARCH

Dubai Duty Free supported the 9th Emirates Airline International Festival of Literature attended by world-renowned authors. The book, Game, Set and Dubai: A Quarter Century of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships was launched at the event.
Dubai Duty Free choral group, the  Dubai Duty Free Nightingales won the Best Corporate Choir at the ChoirFest Middle East 2017.
Dubai Duty Free Foundation and Dubai Cares signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at supporting the philanthropic efforts of both entities through Dubai Cares’ far-reaching programmes that support the empowerment of children and young people in developing countries.

APRIL

Dubai Duty Free was a Gold and Bronze awardee for the CSR Leadership Award and Best Environmental Excellence Award respectively, at the annual Global CSR and Summit Awards held in Langkawi, Malaysia.
Dubai Duty Free retained the title as Airport Travel Retailer of the Year at the annual Duty Free News International Global Travel Awards for Travel Retail Excellence held in London, U.K.
Dubai Duty Free paid the first of two visits to Newbury Racecourse which saw two days of top class racing action and was attended by Her Majesty The Queen.
Dubai Duty Free was honoured with Outstanding Corporate Social Responsibility Supporter Award at the 6th Cycle of the Princess Haya Awards for Special Education (PHASE) held in Dubai.
For the 16th consecutive year, Dubai Duty Free received the Best Airport in Duty Free Shopping at the Business Traveller Middle East awards ceremony.

MAY

Dubai Duty Free was named as one of the 30 Most Admired Companies in GCC based on a report released by ITP Publishing’s Arabian Business Magazine.
Dubai Duty Free was presented with the DFNI Awards-Asia Pacific for Middle East Travel Retailer of the Year for the 17th consecutive time in Singapore.
The 5th Dubai Duty Free Darts Masters played at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium was won by Gary Anderson for the second time.
At the India-UAE Business and Social Summit for the World’s Greatest Brands 2016-17 Asia & GCC Awards, Dubai Duty Free was presented with the Retail Industry Award in the Duty Free Stores category for its exemplary achievements for the past three decades.

JULY

The 1st of July saw the 10th running of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh Racecourse in Ireland which was won by the Aiden O’Brien trained Capri.
Dubai Duty Free continued its title sponsorship of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open at Portstewart Golf Club. The Dubai Duty Free Irish Open hosted by the Rory Foundation has become part of the Rolex Series and now offer prize money of US$7 million. This year’s tournament was won by Spain’s’ Jon Rahm.

AUGUST

In less than 8 months, Dubai Duty Free completed its upgrade to Oracle Retail Release 16. The new functionality will increase user productivity through exception-based retailing, persona specific dashboards, operational efficiencies, and widespread mobility. Additionally, the new technology allows click and collect with accurate inventory visibility and best-in-class processes with Oracle Commerce and Oracle Retail.
Dubai Duty Free returned to Ascot Racecourse for the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup, the world’s premier international jockeys’ competition won by The Great Britain and Ireland team.

SEPTEMBER

For the second consecutive year Colm McLoughlin was presented with the “Retail Business Leader of the Year” at the Gulf Business Awards held at the Fairmont The Palm Hotel in Dubai.
Colm McLoughlin was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the prestigious CEO Middle East Awards held at Four Seasons Resort Hotel in Dubai.

OCTOBER

Dubai Duty Free walked away with a key award when it was named Airport Retailer of the Year in Single Location for a remarkable eight time at the prestigious Frontier Awards held in Cannes, France.
Dubai Duty Free officially inaugurated a 350 square metres shop in Riverland Dubai at Dubai Parks and Resorts.
Dubai Duty Free accepted the Dubai Fitness Challenge issued by H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council for Dubai Government and hosted four corporate activities including a 7.5km beach run, a Zumba class, cycling and Iyengar Yoga.

 NOVEMBER

The Middlesex University Dubai conferred an Honorary Doctorate of the University (DUniv) to Colm McLoughlin, as part of its celebration of the academic success of its Class of 2017 at a ceremony held at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel.
Dubai Duty Free was the official event sponsor of the DP World Tour Championship – Race to Dubai which took place at the Jumeirah Golf Estates.
Dubai Duty Free supported the Dubai Airshow and co-sponsored the Gala Dinner with a special performance by Jennifer Lopez, which was held at Atlantis, The Palm.
Dubai Duty Free hosted the 25th Dubai Duty Free Golf World Cup, with over 100 overseas and local representatives from the global duty free industry and was won by Clark Francis for the second time.

DECEMBER

Dubai Duty Free won the Global Traveler’s Award for “Best Duty Free Shops” for the eleventh consecutive year by the publishers of US-based magazine Global Traveler held in Los Angeles, USA.
Dubai Duty Free marked its 34th Anniversary with a 25% discount offer on a wide range of merchandise over three days (18th, 19th and 20th December).Total sales for the three days topped US$54 million.
Dubai Duty Free expects to record US$1.9 billion by year-end.