The former chief executive of Dubai Duty Free, Colm McLoughlin, died on Wednesday. He was 81.
McLoughlin, who also served as DDF's executive vice chairman, was instrumental in its rise to becoming the single-largest duty-free operation in the world.
He stepped down from the company in May this year, after 41 years at its helm. He maintained an advisory role and remained as chairman of the DDF Foundation.
Under his leadership, DDF’s business grew from $20 million in 1984 to $2.16 billion last year.
"With a heavy heart, we mourn the passing of Colm McLoughlin, a distinguished visionary whose dedication transformed Dubai Duty Free into a global icon over more than four decades," Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, said on X on Friday. He hailed the former DDF chief as an "inspiring and humble figure".
Ramesh Cidambi, managing director of Dubai Duty Free, said, “Colm was a great leader who built an award-winning retail business at Dubai Airport and steered its growth to a $2 billion business with over 6,000 employees at the time of his retirement.
“He was a true friend who touched so many lives within the travel retail industry. I join our chairman, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, and all of our employees in sending our deepest condolences to Colm’s wife Breeda, his son Niall and his daughters Tyna and Mandy and all of their families. Our thoughts and prayers are with Breeda and the family at this very difficult time.”
McLoughlin was a member of the original consultancy team from Aer Rianta, the Irish airport authority, which was contracted by the Dubai government to launch the duty free operation in 1983. His initial contract with the government was for six months but he went on to run the business for more than four decades.
He continued to serve the Irish diaspora throughout his life in Dubai and received an Irish Presidential Distinguished Service Award in 2014.
Moral education needed in a 'rapidly changing world'
Moral education lessons for young people is needed in a rapidly changing world, the head of the programme said.
Alanood Al Kaabi, head of programmes at the Education Affairs Office of the Crown Price Court - Abu Dhabi, said: "The Crown Price Court is fully behind this initiative and have already seen the curriculum succeed in empowering young people and providing them with the necessary tools to succeed in building the future of the nation at all levels.
"Moral education touches on every aspect and subject that children engage in.
"It is not just limited to science or maths but it is involved in all subjects and it is helping children to adapt to integral moral practises.
"The moral education programme has been designed to develop children holistically in a world being rapidly transformed by technology and globalisation."
'Morbius'
Director: Daniel Espinosa
Stars: Jared Leto, Matt Smith, Adria Arjona
Rating: 2/5
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, second leg result:
Ajax 2-3 Tottenham
Tottenham advance on away goals rule after tie ends 3-3 on aggregate
Final: June 1, Madrid
Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
