UAE. Welcome to news from the Middle East Duty Free Association (MEDFA). Here you’ll find regular updates on the MEDFA conference and all other aspects of MEDFA’s ongoing activities to support, protect and develop the duty free industry in the Middle East region.
For a comprehensive index of every Middle East retail news item, click on the Middle East heading in the regional news section on the home page of TheMoodieReport.com
4 December 2003
MEDFA conference closes on confident note
UAE. The second Middle East Duty Free Association (MEDFA) Conference closed today, having attracted a record number of delegates, estimated at around 270.
The conference was characterised by optimism about the region’s travel and duty free prospects.
Despite the well-documented problems in early 2003 caused by the Iraq war and SARS, retailer after retailer spoke of quick post-war recoveries, surging second half sales and a strong finish to the year.
In a bullish opening address on the first day, MEDFA president Mohamed Mounib said: “I’m very proud to be able to tell you that many of the retailers in this room are looking at achieving record sales in 2003.
“This most difficult of years has actually shown the Middle East Duty Free industry in the most positive of lights. I have never felt more optimistic and confident in the industry’s growth”¦ both quantitative “¦and qualitative.”
The event was moderated by The Moodie Report and Tax Free World Association. On day one, the MEDFA conference took place in the morning with delegates going on to the inaugural Middle East Exclusive Exhibition in the afternoon. The latter has enjoyed a successful start with visitor traffic rising on day two and a high standard of local and international exhibitors.
Mounib said the region’s duty free industry was well-placed to take advantage of a “quiet but effective revolution that is taking place before our very eyes in the Middle East aviation and airport sectors.”
He added: “It’s a revolution that is driving traffic to new heights. It’s a revolution that involves an astonishing array of airport expansion projects. And it’s bringing with it a wealth of retail opportunities, for airlines, for airports, for retailers, for suppliers and for travelling consumers.”
16 June 2003
Gulf Air chief to address Middle East conference
UAE. Middle East Duty Free Association (MEDFA) has announced that the keynote speaker at this year’s Middle East Duty Free Conference will be a man who is noted for strategic achievements in the international transport and tourism sectors.
James Hogan, president and ceo of Gulf Air, the national carrier of Abu Dhabi, Bahrain and Oman, will present a unique insight to “The Lessons of Crisis” before an audience of retailers, suppliers and operators. Hogan gained extensive management experience in the airline, car rental and hotel industries in diverse markets throughout Europe, Asia Pacific and the Middle East prior to his arrival at Gulf Air in May 2002.
The Middle East Duty Free Conference, managed by TFWA with the participation of Moodie International, will take place in the Al Bustan Rotana Hotel, Dubai on Wednesday 3 and Thursday 4 December 2003. It will be followed by the Dubai Duty Free Golf Tournament on 5 and 6 December.
MEDFA president Mohamed Mounib will open the conference and set the scene by assessing the “State of the Regional Industry” following the recent conflict and the impact of external factors on the local economies. The microcosm of the Middle East duty free zone will then be set within the context of the worldwide travel retail trade by TFWA president Erik Juul-Mortensen in his address “MEDFA Within the Global Industry”.
In an interactive moderated audience discussion, delegates will be encouraged to contribute their experience of “Trading under Crisis” and share their strategies for recovery. Exclusive year-to-date performance figures will also be examined.
“Around the Region” will be a filmed documentary of the growing Middle East duty free market with exclusive footage of some of the region’s latest retail developments.
In market focus sessions, the spotlight will play over the rapidly developing markets of Tunisia and Morocco, two countries in North Africa with well established tourism infrastructures. It will then shift to “Understanding the Indian Traveller” in an effort to analyse a consumer group which is key to the fortunes of many Middle East retailers.
In “Four Retailers, Four Categories” retail experts will address the performance and future of key market segments in the region: liquor & tobacco; fragrances & cosmetics; gifts & luxury goods; food & confectionery.
“Promoting the Arab World Instore” will look at the efforts of Middle Eastern duty free retailers to promote their own region and their own unique products.
The importance of staff training and effective management will be featured in a session “Excellence in Human Resources” in which a human resources professional will suggest techniques for getting the most out of staff.
Throughout the busy programme of the two-day conference there will be opportunities for delegates to network and socialise at coffee breaks, lunches, the Welcoming Cocktail (sponsored by Weitnauer) and the Gala Dinner (sponsored by Dubai Duty Free).
The organisers wish to acknowledge the generous sponsors and media partners including Aer Rianta, Abu Dhabi Duty Free, The Moodie Report, Gulf Africa Duty Free, Nestlé International Travel Retail, DFNI, Frontier, The Travel Retail Business, Travel Retailer International and Travel Retail Markets Middle East.
Second MEFDA Conference planned for 3 to 4 December
UAE. The Middle East Duty Free Association has confirmed that the conference will take place in Dubai on Wednesday 3 and Thursday 4 December 2003 at Dubai’s Al Bustan Rotana Hotel.
The event is being managed by TFWA, while the programme is being formulated and moderated by The Moodie Report co-publisher Moodie International. This key regional conference offers one of the industry’s best networking occasions, as well as examing the travel retail opportunities in arguably the world’s most dynamic duty free region. It will be followed by the Dubai Duty Free World Golf Cup on 5 and 6 December.
The two-day conference, which proved such a success last year, will highlight the post-war recovery of business and travel in the region. Exclusive film coverage of the region’s leading retail locations will be a highlight.
Programme details will be released shortly.
Several sponsors and media partners have already committed their support to the event, including Dubai Duty Free, Dufry Travel Retail, Aer Rianta International-Middle East, Abu Dhabi Duty Free, Moodie International and The Moodie Report, Travel Retail Business, DFNI, Travel Retailer International, Travel Retail Markets Middle East and Gulf Africa Duty Free. A range of sponsorship opportunities is available.
Registration fees will remain at last year’s levels: TFWA and MEDFA members €650; non-members €750.
Contact point
Micheline Enkiri
Administrative Officer
Middle East Duty Free Association (MEDFA) FZE
PO Box 54394
Dubai
UAE
Tel: +971 4 299 66 63
Fax: +971 4 299 66 30
Email: medfa@emirates.net.ae
