'Lifetime Achievement in the Middle East Event Industry' for Dubai Duty Free's Managing Director

The Awards ceremony, which attracted over 300 representatives from the Middle East event industry, celebrated the best in the business with over 15 awards presented during the course of the evening.

The final award for 'Lifetime Achievement' recognized the outstanding effort and long term contribution made by Colm McLoughlin in ensuring the successful staging of events in Dubai.

Accepting the award, McLoughlin thanked the award organizers and the judges and recognized the support that he and the duty free operation receives from H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Department of Civil Aviation and Chairman of Dubai Airports.

He also acknowledged the huge team effort that has gone into Dubai Duty Free's success as an award winning airport retailer and as an event organizer.

"I have been very fortunate over the past 25 years to have the support of the Government of Dubai and in particular from H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, who actively supports the operation and the many events that we organize. I am also grateful for the great team of employees at Dubai Duty Free, many of whom are actively involved in all of our events."

On presenting the 'Lifetime Achievement' award, the organizers acknowledged Colm's role as a pioneer in the event management business in Dubai.

"I think that we have always understood the importance of developing events that will ultimately raise the profile of Dubai as a sports, business and leisure destination. Over the years, these events have grown in tandem with Dubai and we are delighted that our biggest event, the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships, which is owned and organized by Dubai Duty Free, is one of the top tournaments in the world and watched by millions of TV viewers from around the globe".

Dubai Duty Free began operations in 1983 is now one of the top airport retailers in the world in terms of turnover, which topped $1.1bn in 2008. The operation, under Colm's guidance, quickly utilized sporting events as a means of reaching its target audience. Sponsorship of local events began with the Dubai Ski Masters which was held at Dubai Offshore Sailing Club (DOSC).

Looking increasingly to the UK market, in the late 1980's the operation began to sponsor and later stage the Dubai Snooker Classic which ran until 1994. The event, staged at Al Nasr Leisureland, attracted the top snooker players of the day and generated a great deal of TV and press exposure for Dubai.

Appealing to a more international audience, the Dubai Duty Free Men's Open began as a $1m tournament in 1993 and the event, along with the women's tournament, has grown to the $4m Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships, featuring the top tennis stars in the world.

Horse racing both at home and overseas has become an increasingly important sport for the operation and its portfolio has grown to include sponsorship of the $5m Dubai Duty Free race held during the Dubai World Cup.

Last year, the operation added title sponsorship of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby to its stable of events. In the UK, the operation supports three major race meetings and at the recent Dubai Duty Free-sponsored race meeting in Newbury, Her Majesty The Queen, was present and met with Mr. McLoughlin and the team.

Golf tournaments, Powerboat Racing and Basketball are just some of the other events that Dubai Duty Free has supported in order to ensure that Dubai flag continues to fly both at home and overseas.