Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Dubai Duty Free

Dubai Duty Free (DDF) is the tax-free shopping heaven located at Dubai International Airport. With a huge range of cosmetics and perfumes, gold and jewellery, electronics, tobacco products, and alcohol, it is consistently ranked as one of the top airport retail operations in the world. DDF is famous for its promotions, notably the luxury car raffle. Massive discounts can be obtained on December 20, the anniversary of its opening. Dubai duty free is open 24 hours a day. The majority of stores are located in the departure area, although there is also a smaller section in arrivals (Dubai Online, 2009). On average, Dubai Duty Free handles around 60,000 sales transactions per day, resulting in over 20 million transactions this year.

On December 20th, 2008, Dubai Duty Free's 25th Anniversary day, the operation recorded sales of US$20 million in the 24 hour period, and an amazing 130,000 transactions.



DDF Mission

  • On behalf of the Department of Civil Aviation Authority, to own and operate the retail operations at Dubai International Airport and other affiliated areas.
  • To provide customers with first class customer service, excellent value for money, a wide range of quality products and a world –class shopping environment.
  • To be recognized as the one of the best airport retailer’s in the world.
  • On behalf of the Department of Civil Aviation Authority, to manage the Aviation Club complex and affiliated facilities, established to provide the best in sports and entertainment.
  • To promote Dubai as the sports, leisure and business capital of the Middle East, through its various operations and promotional activities (Dubai Duty Free website, 2009).


Prime Focus
While the successful running of the shopfloor operation is a foremost objective for Dubai Duty Free, the operation is highly committed to promoting Dubai through a series of high level sporting events such as the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships. Attracting 10 out of the top 10 women and 7 of the top 10 men’s players in the world will be in action from 15 – 28 February. This event complements the operation's annual sports calendar that includes horse racing both at home and overseas.



Shopping at DDF
Dubai Duty Free offers an extensive range of quality products, From leather goods and clothing to gold and perfumes and high-tech gadgetry, Dubai Duty Free has it all at highly competitive prices (Dubai Duty Free website, 2009).


  • Liquor and Tobacco
    The world's best-known spirits, wines and champagne, and top selling brands of cigarettes, cigar and tobacco. The newly opened Casa de Habano offers an unrivalled selection of Cuban cigars.
  • Gold and Jewellery
    A huge gold selection, set with precious gems and pearls.
  • Watches
    From colourful swatches to top-of-the-range Rolex, the watch island houses a comprehensive stock of timepieces.
  • Perfumery
    Fragrances and bath lines from exclusive perfume houses for both men and women.
  • Ladies Fashion
    A selection of shoes, lingerie, fashion wear and designer clothes.
  • Sunglasses
    A fine range of sunglasses to suit all budgets, tastes and fashions.
  • Men's Fashion
    Suits, jackets, shirts and footwear from the top designer labels.
  • Sports Wear
    An impressive range of sports equipment and the latest sports fashions top manufacturers and designers
  • Food Plus
    Delicatessen, fine foods, confectionary, household items, baby care, budget cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, health food and linen, to name just a few.
  • Electricals
    Everything from cameras and binoculars to latest DVD technology and phones.
  • Gifts
    Souvenir shopping can wait until the airport with a massive selection of authentic Arabic apparel available.
  • Tapes, CD's, DVDs
    The latest movies and musical releases available along with an extensive back catalogue.
  • Crystal
    Waterford, Swarovski, Wedgwood, Royal Doulton and Christofle are just some of names available.
  • Leather Goods
    Stylish handbags, suitcases, suit carriers, plus wallets, key minders and purses.
  • Toys
    A wonderful range of fluffy soft toys, as well as games, remote control items, dolls, construction kits and hobby sets.
  • Bookshop
    Fiction and non-fiction for all ages along with the latest magazines and newspapers in a variety of languages.

Innovative Promotions: Global Approach
By supporting so many events at the highest level and all around the globe, Dubai Duty Free is effectively promoting Dubai’s sporting, leisure and business facilities, which are second to none.


  • On 28th March, Dubai Duty Free will return to Nad Al Sheba for the US$5 million Group 1 Dubai Duty Free, the penultimate race on World Cup night which was won in 2008 by Jay Peg, trained by winning trainer Herman Brown and ridden by champion jockey Anton Marcus.
  • Looking ahead to the rest of the sporting year, Dubai Duty Free will return once again in Newbury, UK in April 17 and 18 for the Dubai Duty Free Stakes and in September 18 and 19 for the Dubai International Raceday respectively.


  • Still in the UK, Dubai Duty Free will return to Ascot in 8th August to sponsor the 2009 Shergar Cup. This unique event is, for once, not so much about the horses as the world’s top jockeys compete against each other for a share of the spoils. In 2008, the European Team beat the Rest of the World on this increasing popular fixture.
  • Dubai Duty Free will also return to Ireland in June for the 2nd Dubai Irish Derby at the Curragh on 28th June with the day once again promising to be a memorable one.

Awards
To date, Dubai Duty Free has received more than 150 awards from industry, media and government bodies; a witness to its immense success.

  • · A five time winner of the much-coveted Frontier Award for ‘Airport Retailer of the Year’, the last of which was presented in Cannes in October 2007,
  • Global Traveller Award for 'Best Duty Free Shops' won in 2008 and 2009
  • Business Traveller UK and the Business Traveller Middle East award for 'Best Duty Free Shopping',
  • Raven Fox Award for 'Middle East Travel Retailer of the Year'

DDF & CSR
Dubai Duty Free recognizes and is committed to reducing the Environmental impacts and health and safety risks associated with the storage and retailing of goods. It is the Company’s policy to operate an Integrated Management System in accordance with ISO 14001: 2004 and OHSAS 18001: 2007. The overall objective of our HSE policy is the provision of a safe and environmentally friendly operation for our employees, customers and neighbours (Dubai Duty Free website, 2009).

The Company is committed to the concept of continual improvement and uses the Integrated Management System as an improvement tool. Environmental and safety issues are viewed as core business values.


Working successfully towards their objectives

  • Ensuring that risks are identified and controlled so that employees and others can be protected from danger.
  • Ensuring that Environmental Impacts are minimized and controlled.
  • Ensuring compliance with all relevant UAE Health, Safety and environmental legislation is achieved as a minimum.
  • Ensuring that products and services provided meet and even exceed the expectations of customers.

DDF Highlights 2008


  • On its 25th Anniversary on 20 December 2008, Dubai Duty Free celebrated a remarkable quarter century that has seen its business grow from Dhs70 million (US$20 million) in 1984 to Dhs3.9 billion (US$1.1 billion) in 2008.
  • The milestone anniversary was celebrated in a number of ways, including the publication of the book ‘Fly Buy Dubai’ which provides a fascinating insight into the origins of the duty free industry. On the anniversary day, the operations achieved over Dhs70 million (US$20 million) in sales during the 24-hour period, which equals the annual sales of its first full year of business.
  • Dubai Duty Free announced annual sales of Dhs3.95 billion (US$1.1 billion) in 2008, representing a 23 per cent increase on the previous year.
  • December itself was a record month with sales reaching a new monthly high of Dhs403 million (US$111 million), while on 17th December, the milestone figure of US$1 billion (Dhs3.6 billion) was crossed.
  • The year saw the operation doubling its retail space from 7,000 square metres to 15,000 square metres with the inauguration of the new Emirates Terminal 3 in October 2008. The opening of Dubai Duty Free’s Head Office and Distribution Centre and the increase in the operation’s staffing levels to 3,700 were also major milestones for Dubai Duty Free in 2008. (Dubai Duty Free website, 2009).

1 comment:

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