Colm McLoughlin

In 2017, the Honorary Doctorate was awarded to Colm McLoughlin - Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Duty Free.

Colm began his retailing career in London in the 1960’s working for the popular high-street chain of Woolworths, before moving back to Ireland to work for Shannon Duty Free. As General Manager of Shannon Duty Free, Colm was one of a team of ten from Aer Rianta (the Irish Airport Authority) who moved to Dubai in 1983 at the request of the Dubai Government, to set up Dubai Duty Free.

Following the successful opening of Dubai Duty Free in 1983, Colm was asked to remain as General Manager of the start-up operation, which in its opening year had a turnover of US$20 million. Colm later became the Managing Director of Dubai Duty Free. Employing almost 6,000 staff, Dubai Duty Free is widely regarded for having set the benchmark for the duty-free industry in the region.

In July 2011, Colm was named Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of Dubai Duty Free and its subsidiary businesses, which include The Irish Village, The Century Village and the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium, home to the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. Colm’s remit also includes the Jumeirah Creekside Hotel, which is owned and developed by Dubai Duty Free and is managed by the Jumeirah Group.

A keen philanthropist, Colm established the Dubai Duty Free Foundation in 2004 and since then has supported 37 local and 51 overseas charities including Hand in Hand for Haiti, The Moodie Report Great Travel Retail Educathlon, Smile Train and the construction of 32 houses in the DDF GK Village, located in the province of Leyte, Philippines.

A single handicap golfer, Colm is the former Captain of the two golf courses in Dubai: the Emirates Golf Club (1995/1996) and the Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club (2007). He is the only person to have held both captaincies. Colm also holds a private pilot’s license for light aircraft.

Since receiving his honorary degree from MDX Dubai, Colm continued his leadership of Dubai Duty Free until (2024 when he announced his retirement after 55 years in the travel retail industry and 41 years of leadership in Dubai Duty Free.

Under his leadership, Dubai Duty Free has grown dramatically, with business rising from $20 million (1984) to $2.16 billion (2023). The company has been the recipient of over 780 awards, of which 86 have been attributed to Colm directly.