It is an exciting year indeed for Dubai Duty Free who not only celebrate their 25^th anniversary in December, but are fast heading towards breaking the magical $1billion sales milestone for the first time. Add in the fact that they have just moved base and are approaching a busy period ahead.

Sales up to the end of September 2008 have reached over US$780 million, representing a 27% increase over the previous period in 2007 and providing a positive indicator that the US$1 billion milestone will be eclipsed in December.

And what a positive way that will be to celebrate the 25^th anniversary of the company which started trading on 20^th December 1983 and whose first full year of operation saw turnover of US$20 million.

Dubai Duty Free has moved recently to its brand new, purpose-built, Warehouse and Distribution Centre in Ramoul. This facility, at 27,000 square metres is the largest of its type in the Middle East and began operations in June this year. By year end, this will be the operation’s single centralized warehouse and distribution centre, providing a semi-automated retrieval and storage system.

Adjacent to the Distribution Centre is the new head office for Dubai Duty Free which covers about 6,000 square metres and provides ample office space, as well as training facilities and a modern auditorium.

The new Dubai Duty Free operation in Emirates Terminal 3 covers over 8,000 square metres to include Departures, Arrivals and landside shops. The additional retail area is a welcome addition to the award-winning duty free operations in Terminals 1 and 2 which cover a total of 7,000 square metres.

In parallel with its retail success, the operation is highly committed to promoting Dubai through a series of high level sporting events.

The Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships, which is owned and organised by Dubai Duty Free, was twice named ‘Tournament of the Year’ in 2008 based on the votes of players and officials. In September 2007, the operation announced a US$9 million sponsorship agreement with Barclays who have become the title-sponsor of the tournament from 2008 – 2011.

Other sports benefiting from the operation’s sponsorship and support include major golf tournaments, including the industry-focused Dubai Duty Free Golf World Cup, which will take place this year at the Four Seasons Golf Club and Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club on the 23^rd and 24^th November, respectively.

At this year’s Dubai Rugby 7’s, sponsored by Emirates, Dubai Duty Free, along with The Irish Village, is once again sponsoring the Welsh team.

Horse racing received another fillip from Dubai Duty Free in 2008 as the operation signed up as the title sponsor of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby which was staged at the Curragh in June this year. The five year agreement resulted in positive media coverage, as did the announcement made at Ascot in August to continue supporting the Dubai Duty Free sponsored Shergar Cup team event for a further five years. International powerboat racing and basketball among others sports benefiting from Dubai Duty Free’s support this year.