Welcome to our final issue of the year featuring a special focus on the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region to coincide with the MEADFA Conference in Dubai.

Delving into how the duty free and travel retail (DF&TR) business is developing across MEA is always a rewarding way to wrap up the year.

Operations continue to evolve at an extraordinary pace and its spirit of resilience and innovation remains a source of inspiration for the global community.

At the MEADFA press conference in Cannes, the association’s President, Abdeslam Agzoul, highlighted the long list of major infrastructure developments in the pipeline, making it clear to see the opportunities on the horizon.

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Our cover story featuring Thabet Musleh, Chief Retail and Hospitality Officer, Qatar Airways Group, gives rise to valuable insights on developing a business at pace.

One of the most powerful remarks he shares is a timely reminder to follow the data: “I think over the next couple of years, whilst business is going to be tough, the use of data is going to really help accelerate certain companies and I think the stronger companies over the next couple of years are going to be the ones who use data wisely,” Musleh tells us.

There’s much more to discover inside the issue, from the latest MEA pax and shopper statistics courtesy of m1nd-set, to our sit-down interview from Cannes with Harald Sünner, Area Sales Manager for MEA, at Gebr. Heinemann.

Elsewhere, you’ll find dedicated sections on wine, beer and spirits as well as tobacco and cigars.

In addition to our in-depth category reports featuring a spread of voices, we are bringing you exclusive one-on-ones with BAT, PMI, Rémy Cointreau and more, as well as a special feature on JTI that will take you all the way to Japan.

Click here to read the November/December 2025 issue

On top of being available in print to MEADFA Conference delegates, this issue is also available to read online in e-zine format.

Please do lookout for the plus and play buttons for extra content as you navigate the digital versions. We have more than 10 videos embedded throughout for you to watch – we hope you enjoy!

Finally, as 2025 draws to a close, TRBusiness would like to express its sincere thanks to our loyal readers – including all those who’ve joined us this year – and trusted advertising and event partners. Your continued support is central to our mission of ‘Helping the industry grow’ and we’re proud to stand alongside you in navigating the ever-evolving world of DF&TR.

To start the new year on a strong note, we encourage stakeholders around the world to make their voices heard in the Global Industry Survey 2026, which is one of our most widely read editorials and a vital reference tool for the year ahead

Plus, be sure to stay in the loop with all the latest news by subscribing to our newsletters and giving us a follow on LinkedIn.

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