In a surprising move, the Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) is inviting interested parties to tender for an approximate two-year term to operate a master duty free concession for ADAC’s south side terminals and other key locations.

 

This business is currently operated by DFS Group and the tender appears to be aimed at plugging the gap between the time that DFS’ contract expires and the new Midfield Terminal opens.

 

Officially, the Midfield facility is supposed to open by the end of 2018, although some believe it could be delayed well beyond this – even as long as through to 2020.

 

WHO WILL INVEST STRONGLY FOR THE SHORT TERM?

As is well known, Lagardére Travel Retail and Aer Rianta International have both won contracts at Midfield, while DFS Group is generally acknowledged to have done a very good job in its present location in the airport.

 

Whether ADAC will be able to find an experienced operator who is prepared to invest money in a short-term contract of just 18 months to two years remain to be seen. However, it seems unlikely if ADAC is looking for comparable concession fees to those more usually associated with five year or longer duration contracts.

 

Meanwhile, ADAC said today that it is looking for a suitably experienced operator with demonstrated experience in developing, marketing, maintaining, investing and operating high volume duty free shops to submit their expressions of interest.

 

REGISTRATION PROCESS

For any companies who are interested, non-registered suppliers are advised to register with the ADAC Sourcing Portal under the ‘Duty Free-289’ category (Concessions Category – Retail – Duty Free) and complete their registration via www.esourcing.adac.ae. [For further information ADAC advises companies to contact one of the following local telephone numbers 02 5053275 or 02 5053862 during working hours-Ed].

 

Registered and interested entities are also being asked to submit the EOI response for this business listed under ‘Current Opportunities’ for (RFI_607) via www.esourcing.adac.ae on, or before 12.00pm on Thursday 17th August 2017 (UAE local time).

 

TENDER HOUSEKEEPING…

Subsequent to this EOI, ADAC says it will initiate a separate RFP tender process, which will follow. A tender fee of AED 20,000 ($5,445) is applicable at the tender stage.

 

Any companies with any queries are being advised to write to: [email protected] quoting the tender reference in the subject, or alternatively call 02 5054888 during working hours.

 

For any parties who are interested, the tender reference to quote is ADAC/SST/Retail/003 /2017. The subject is the Southside Terminal Master Duty free Concession and the date of EOI submission is 17th August 2017.