UAE. ‘A Life Well Spent’, a biography based on the life of Dubai Duty Free Executive Vice Chairman and CEO Colm McLoughlin, was officially launched at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature on 3 February. The 16th edition of the event took place at the Intercontinental Dubai Festival City.
Written by Dubai-based author Graeme Wilson, the book captures the remarkable life of Colm McLoughlin, one of travel retail’s great industry pioneers and statesmen. It traces his story from early childhood in Ireland to his four decades at the helm of the number one travel retailer at a single airport in the world.
As reported, Dubai Duty Free recently revealed record annual sales of AED7.885 billion (US$2.16 billion) for 2023, with the figure representing a +24.4% increase over the previous year and a +6.4% rise on pre-pandemic 2019.
The entertaining, inspirational book includes interviews and original comments from world leaders, officials, family, friends, and colleagues. It reveals McLoughlin’s entrepreneurial spirit, creativity and inclusive sense of leadership and bears testimony to the extraordinary vision of Dubai’s ruling family and the rise of Dubai Duty Free.
The book session that took place during the Dubai Duty-Free-sponsored day of the Festival was moderated by Festival Founder Isobel Abulhoul, with 100 people in attendance.
Speaking about his biography, McLoughlin said, “My thanks to Graeme for this collaboration and to Isobel for selecting the book for this year’s Festival, which is a real honour. I hope that readers enjoy the book and I want to thank everyone who took the time to be interviewed for the book.”
A book signing and photo opportunity with McLoughlin and Wilson took place after the session.
The biography is available at Dubai Duty Free, both in-store and online, with some of the profits being donated to charitable causes through the Dubai Duty Free Foundation.
Graeme Wilson has previously worked on other Dubai Duty Free publications, including the Dubai Duty Free 25th Anniversary book ‘Fly Buy Dubai’ as well as the 25th Anniversary of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, entitled ‘Game, Set, and Dubai’.
Dubai Duty Free has been a supporter of the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature as a Day Sponsor since its inception in 2009.
This year the Festival runs from 31 January to 6 February and features over 160 authors from genres including literature, art, science, current affairs, film and food.
Click below for a short highlights video from the launch event, released by Dubai Duty Free on LinkedIn.
