UAE. DFS Group has underlined its ambition to develop a world-class retail environment at Abu Dhabi International Airport Terminal 3 with a series of “˜firsts’ for the region and for the world. The new T3 opened in February.
DFS has unveiled the world’s first Jimmy Choo boutique at an airport – in addition to the Middle East’s first Hermès airport boutique.
The retailer said: “Jimmy Choo, the upscale shoe and accessories designer, has chosen DFS Abu Dhabi at Abu Dhabi International Airport as the site of its first-ever airport boutique. The brand, whose shoes were worn by the United States’ First Lady Michelle Obama at her husband’s inauguration ceremony, is a celebrity favourite and the decision to open its first standalone airport boutique in Abu Dhabi is proof of the UAE capital’s emerging importance on the world platform.
“Furthermore, DFS Duty Free Abu Dhabi can also claim a regional ‘first’ with the first standalone Hermès airport boutique in the Middle East, further cementing Abu Dhabi’s position as a world-class airport and a destination to watch.”
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DFS’s 28,000sq ft retail complex houses many of the world’s leading fashion and beauty brands |
The 28,000sq ft retail complex houses more than 70 leading designer fashion, beauty and accessories brands, including Jimmy Choo, Chloé, Burberry, Hermès, Coach, Hugo Boss, Cartier, Bvlgari, Polo Ralph Lauren, Rolex, TAG Heuer, Montblanc, Swarovski and others.
The retailer is also offering a range of exclusive and limited-edition products to travellers. These include the ‘Heloise’ handbag from leading Parisian fashion house Chloé, of which only two are available in the region. A percentage of the sales from the bag will go to the Smile Train Foundation, which aids children in developing countries via cleft lip and palette surgery.
Abu Dhabi International Airport was also the first location in the region where customers could purchase Emporio Armani’s latest fragrance, Emporio Armani Diamonds, which has been on sale at DFS Abu Dhabi since 1 March.
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For the first time in its airport portfolio, DFS has designed a scaled-down version of its Galleria retail model, which the retailer said “brings the sense of a downtown shopping environment to Abu Dhabi International Airport”.
Abu Dhabi Airports Company Vice President of Corporate Affairs Sheikha Al Maskari said: “Our ongoing redevelopment of Abu Dhabi International Airport is benchmarked against the best airport facilities worldwide. At Terminal 3, which is only one component of our airport redevelopment project, we have considered every detail from kerbside through to boarding to ensure an unparalleled passenger experience. The high quality of the retail element complements our high quality terminal facilities perfectly.”
DFS Middle East Vice President of Retail Operations Eugene Barry said: “With a longstanding heritage in luxury airport retailing, we at DFS are highly excited about the opening of our stunning new retail space at Abu Dhabi International Airport, our first venture in the region. The vision for Abu Dhabi’s development in many ways mirrors our own in that we are looking at long-term sustainable growth and a focus on doing things properly.”
Barry added: “We have found the local clientele to be extremely discerning and enthusiastic about the brands we are bringing to Abu Dhabi International, and so it’s particularly satisfying for us to be able to bring a world-first to the capital in the form of Jimmy Choo’s first ever standalone airport boutique, and the first Hermès airport boutique in the region.”
DFS also operates the retail outlets in Terminals 1 and 2.
For more information please visit www.dfsgalleria.com/en/abu-dhabi.
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