MARCH 12, 2009 - Leading luxury global airport retailer DFS Duty Free has officially opened its doors on its exclusive new shopping destination, its first retail outlet in the region, at Abu Dhabi International Airport's new Terminal 3, the new home of Etihad Airways.
The 28,000 square feet retail experience showcases more than 70 world-class 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 many more. Excitingly for luxury-loving travellers, DFS Duty Free Abu Dhabi can claim a world-first with the debut of the first-ever standalone Jimmy Choo airport boutique, and the first Hermès dedicated presence in any airport in the Middle East.
Thanks to its close brand partnerships, DFS is offering a range of exclusive products to Abu Dhabi travellers. A number of top designers have created limited edition items that are only on sale in the region via DFS Duty Free Abu Dhabi, including the 'Heloise' handbag from leading Parisian fashion house Chloé, crafted from the finest pink python and softest calfskin, of which only two are available in the region. A percentage of the sales from the bag will go to the Smile Train Foundation, a charity which helps to restore smiles to children in developing countries via cleft lip and palette surgery.
The arrival of DFS in the region further cements Abu Dhabi's reputation as a destination to watch. With ambitious plans to attract over 11.2 million travellers by 2010, Abu Dhabi International Airport is the arrival point for most of the Emirate's visitors and residents, and DFS’ luxurious new retail experience blends many of the world's best known high-end brands with a distinctly Arabian flavour and helps to set the tone for the upscale global travellers that Abu Dhabi wishes to attract. For the first time in its airport portfolio, DFS has designed a scaled-down version of its successful Galleria retail model, which brings a sense of a 'downtown' shopping environment to Abu Dhabi International Airport.
Eugene Barry, Vice President of Retail Operations, DFS Middle East, comments: "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'."
Mr Barry further adds: "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."
Twelve of the brands on offer have been selected from the world of designer fashion, with a further 66 upscale beauty brands including, Chanel, Dior, Givenchy, YSL, Shiseido, Estée Lauder and Lancôme being offered in the Beauty & Fragrance section. The Watches and Jewellery offering comprises an additional over 13 world-class marques, such as Rolex, Cartier, Zenith, TAG Heuer, Corum, Girard Perregaux, and Ulysse Nardin.
DFS Duty Free Abu Dhabi is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, catering to Etihad travellers arriving and departing no matter what time of day or night.
DFS has also taken control of the existing retail outlets in Terminals 1 and 2.
