Colm McLoughlin, the Irishman who transformed Dubai Duty-Free into a global airport retail giant, has passed away at the age of 81. McLoughlin’s vision and leadership saw the retailer grow into a billion-dollar operation, a journey that paralleled Dubai’s own rapid development from a small trading port to a global metropolis.
McLoughlin led Dubai Duty Free from its inception in 1983 until his retirement earlier this year, overseeing its rise as a staple of Dubai International Airport, now the world’s busiest for international travel. Under his guidance, travellers encountered a vast array of duty-free goods, from electronics to perfumes, staffed by a multilingual team dressed in the operation’s iconic green jackets and yellow ties.
“It’s a very Middle Eastern kind of thing,” McLoughlin once remarked to the Los Angeles Times in 1987, as he introduced the gold market at Dubai Duty Free. “We have to cater to a lot of tastes.”
In a statement, Dubai Duty Free announced McLoughlin’s passing on Wednesday following a brief illness. Ramesh Cidambi, who succeeded McLoughlin as managing director, credited him with steering the company’s growth to a $2 billion enterprise with over 6,000 employees at the time of his retirement.
Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman of Dubai Duty Free and CEO of Emirates, paid tribute, noting, “His passion, commitment and pioneering spirit have left a lasting legacy.”
McLoughlin, born in Ballinasloe, Ireland, in 1943, began his duty-free career at Shannon Airport’s pioneering operation in 1969. In July 1983, he arrived in Dubai with a team of ten to launch a duty-free service at what was then a modest desert airport. Initially on a six-month contract, McLoughlin stayed for 40 years, witnessing both Dubai’s transformation and the rapid growth of its airport retail sector.
Despite setbacks during the COVID-19 pandemic, Dubai Duty Free rebounded strongly. In 2023 alone, the retailer, under McLoughlin’s direction, sold millions of products, including 6 million cans of beer, 2.3 million bottles of whisky and 3.3 million bottles of perfume. Recognising the purchasing power of Chinese travellers, Dubai Duty Free adapted to accommodate their needs, including accepting Chinese credit cards, hiring Mandarin-speaking staff and tailoring stock to their preferences. “We would be silly if we didn’t take advantage of it and try to serve them,” McLoughlin told The Associated Press in 2012.
Dubai Duty Free also became known for its raffles, offering prizes from luxury cars to $1 million, attracting countless travellers passing through the airport. Beyond the retail sector, McLoughlin supported sports and community initiatives, sponsoring tennis and golf tournaments and promoting Irish interests in the UAE. His dedication to the Irish community was recognised in 2014, when he received the Irish Presidential Distinguished Service Award.
McLoughlin is survived by his wife Breeda, his son Niall, daughters Tyna and Mandy and their families.
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