Dubai Duty Free reflects on a very busy year in 2016

By Doug Newhouse | Thursday, 29 December 2016 11:20

Dubai Duty Free (DDF) has produced a month-by-month catalogue of all the events it deems were significant landmarks for its operation in the year so far – spanning January through to December.

This list has been released just prior to DDF completing its full calendar year trading period when it is expected to release its annual sales..

The grand list of events as supplied has been reproduced here, with only minor editing.

JANUARY:

Dubai Duty Free supported the 21st running of the Dubai Shopping Festival as a strategic partner for the twelfth consecutive year.

FEBRUARY:

DDF once again supported the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, which was won by Danny Willett.
The DDF Tennis Championships was won by Sara Errani and Stan Wawrinka – both capturing their first Dubai title.

replace 2 Main picture Over 100 players from the global duty free industry will vie for the 24th Dubai Duty Free Golf World Cup title

More than 100 players from the global duty free industry turned up for this year’s 24th Dubai Duty Free Golf World Cup title.

MARCH:

DDF choral group ‘DDF Nightingales’ won the ‘Most Dynamic Choir’ award at the ChoirFest Middle East 2016.
DDF supported the 7th edition of the Emirates Airline International Festival of Literature attended by world-renowned authors.

APRIL:

H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman of DDF officially opened the 7,000sq m retail space at Concourse D.
DDF won two top awards: ‘Global Travel Retailer of the Year’ and ‘Airport Travel Retailer of the Year’ at the DFNI Global Awards for Travel Retail Excellence held in London.
For the 15th consecutive year, DDF received the ‘Best Airport for Duty Free Shopping in the Middle East’ award at the Business Traveller ME Awards.

Dubai Duty Free in DDF in Concourse C at Dubai International Airport.

MAY:

DDF won the ‘Middle East Travel Retailer of the Year’ for the 16th time at the DFNI Asia/Pacific Awards held in Singapore.
The DDF Irish Open Hosted by The Rory Foundation was held at The K Club, Co. Kildare, Ireland – and was won by Rory McIlroy.

JUNE:

DDF organised the DDF President’s Cup to mark the retirement of former President, George Horan after 33 years of dedicated service.
The 25th June saw the 9th running of the DDF Irish Derby held at the Curragh Racecourse in Ireland, which was won by Harzand, owned by HH The Aga Khan and trained by Dermot Weld.
DDF opened two Apple shops in Terminal 3, at Dubai International Airport.

Dubai Duty Free anniversary sales Dec 2016

Dubai Duty Free’s anniversary sales held this month.

JULY:

At the inaugural The Burj CEO Awards held in Washington DC, DDF was presented with ‘Best Global Services’ award, received by Chief Operating Officer, Ramesh Cidambi.

AUGUST:

DDF returned to Ascot Racecourse for the DDF Shergar Cup, the world’s premier international jockeys’ competition won by The Rest of the World team.
DDF walked away with two prestigious awards for ‘Best CSR Practices’ and ‘Best Community Action’ at the Asia Best CSR Practices and Sustainability Excellence Awards – held in Singapore.

Dubai Duty Free Concourse C.

SEPTEMBER:

Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman and CEO was named ‘Retail CEO of the Year’ at the CEO Middle East Awards.
At the Gulf Business Industry Awards, DDF received ‘Retail Company of the Year’, while Executive Vice Chairman and CEO Colm McLoughlin was named ‘Retail Business Leader of the Year’.
DDF flew the flag at Newbury, UK for the DDF International Race day, where they were joined by WTA players and DDF Ambassadors, Ana Ivanović and Caroline Wozniacki.
For the second year running, DDF was named ‘Brand of the Year’ in Retail – Duty Free category at the Prestigious World Branding Awards held in London.

OCTOBER:

Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman and CEO was inducted as ‘Master of the Quaich’ for his outstanding contribution to the beverage industry at a ceremony held at Blair Castle, Scotland.
At the World Sustainability Congress held at The Address Hotel, DDF was a recipient of the ‘Excellence in Sustainable EHS Management’ award, while Executive Vice Chairman and CEO Colm McLoughlin was named one of the ‘100 Global Sustainable Leaders (CEO)’.
DDF participated in ‘The Dubai Week in China’, Shanghai and signed a Memorandum of Understanding with CTRIP, the No. 1 Chinese online travel agency and UnionPay, a long-time DDF partner.

Colm McLoughlin accepting the MENAA Best Business Leader Award.

NOVEMBER:

DDF was a presenting sponsor of the 3rd Dublin Arabic Film Festival (DAFF) held in Ireland.
DDF was the official event sponsor of the DP World Championships – Race to Dubai, which took place at the Jumeirah Golf Estates.
DDF supported once again the two-day annual MEADFA conference and played host to all delegates and guests at a Gala dinner on the first day.
DDF hosted the 24th DDF Golf World Cup with over 100 overseas and local representatives from the global duty free industry.

DECEMBER:

DDF supported the Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby 7s as silver sponsor.
DDF supported the 13th Dubai International Film Festival as a principal sponsor held at Madinat Jumeirah.
DDF received two MENAA Best Business Leaders Awards for “Customer Delight Award” and “Best Business Leader in Retail – Colm McLoughlin” at a gala dinner held at Burj Al Arab.
DDF was inducted into Global Traveler US Hall of Fame for winning the “Best Duty Free Shops” award for the 10th consecutive year held at Los Angeles.
DDF marked its 33rd Anniversary with a 25% discount offer on a wide range of merchandise over three days (18-20 December). Total sales for the three days topped Dhms161.817m (US$44.33m).