More than a decade on from opening, the retail experience at Dubai Duty Free was gaining further acclaim worldwide. The luxury guide, Courvoisier Book of the Best, recognised Dubai Duty Free as the 'Best of the Best' among duty free retailers, encouraging a new audience to take note of the emirate as a destination and Dubai Duty Free as a shopping arena.

Colm McLoughlin accepts the 'Best of the Best' award alongside his wife, Breeda (second right); Courvoisier Book of the Best Editor Lloyd Grossman (left) and Founder-Editor Lord Patrick Lichfield (right), and Anita Mehra.

Ireland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Dick Spring (centre) and Irish Ambassador to Saudi Arabia and the UAE Brendan Lyons tour the store with George Horan.

Racking up the sales: Travellers browse through the fashion merchandise as sales hit a new annual peak of US$145 million.

The Australian tennis team of Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde win the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Open doubles title, while Magnus Gustafsson beats Sergi Bruguera in the singles tournament. The winners are congratulated by His Highness Sheikh Hasher AI Maktoum, President of the UAE Tennis Association; Mohi-Din Binhendi and Colm McLoughlin.

Mohi-Din Binhendi poses with the ATP Outstanding Media Relations Award with Bharat Godkhindi, Anita Mehra; Dubai Civil Aviation Director of Operations Mohammed AI Ahli; Colm McLoughlin and George Horan.

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed AI Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation, is presented an award at ITB Berlin by German Business Traveller’s Editor-in-Chief, Heide llka Weber, when readers voted Dubai Duty Free as one of the best duty free outlets in the world. Mohi-Din Binhendi, Anita Mehra and Dubai Tourism and Commerce Marketing Chief Executive Khalid Bin Sulayem also attend the ceremony.

The Moodie Davitt e-Zine | Spotlight Series – Special Report | 20 December 2018