Dubai Duty Free (DDF) reports that it has been named as one of the thirty ‘Most Admired Companies’ in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries by ITP Publishing’s Arabian Business Magazine.

 

According to DDF, the Arabian Business Report’s findings are derived from its research conducted for both public and private companies within the GCC.

 

The areas of industry covered are said to include retail, aviation, banking, finance, hospitality, construction, e-commerce and media, with the study aimed at highlighting those companies that have shown positive business results ‘amid challenging times’, while also demonstrating that they are innovators.

 

MCLOUGHLIN AND DDF ‘DELIGHTED’

Responding to news of the award, Dubai Duty Free’s Executive Vice Chairman and CEO, Colm McLoughlin commented: “We are delighted to be recognised as one of the most admired companies in the GCC, along with so many well established entities.”

 

Amongst all of the other top GCC companies who also made the top 30 list were Dubai Airports, Emirates Airline, Kingdom Holding Company in Saudi Arabia, Emaar Properties, the Jumeirah Group and DP World and Dubai Airports to name a few.

 

As is well known in the DF&TR business, Dubai Duty Free is one of the biggest travel retail operators in the world.

 

It currently employs a total of nearly 6,000 staff and achieved a sales turnover of $1.85bn in 2016 over a total of more than 38,000sq m of retail space.

 

HUGE RETAIL BUSINESS INCLUDES LEISURE INTERESTS

In addition to its airport duty free operations, the retailer also operates a Leisure Division, which embraces The Irish Village located in Garhoud, Riverland at Dubai Parks and Resorts, The Century Village, the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium and the Jumeirah Creekside Hotel.

 

It is also well known for its many years of sponsoring international sports in the fields of world-class tennis, golf and horse racing events.

 

Last year the retailer sold 7.3m bottles of wines and spirits last year (2.8m of which were whisky); 3.8m cartons of cigarettes; 16.2m cigars; 2.5m pieces of make-up and skincare; 2.9m bottles of perfume; and 9.4m cans of beer, plus much, much more.

 

 

Most recently it also announced (May 9) that Indian housewife Mrs Shanthi Achithan Kutty won its latest US$1m Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire Promotion with ticket number 4664.