Dubai Duty Free has teamed up with the UAE-based philanthropic establishment, Dubai Cares, to launch a range of merchandise at Dubai International Airport. Featuring the Dubai Cares logo, the Dubai Cares range includes affordable items which will appeal to passengers departing and arriving at Dubai Airport.
The products and dedicated merchandise, which are of a very high quality and sourced locally, includes T-shirts, mugs, coasters, key chains, caps and fridge magnets. Dubai Duty Free will donate a percentage of the proceeds from each item sold directly to Dubai Cares.
Colm McLoughlin, Managing Director of Dubai Duty Free said:
I think that this is the start of something exciting for both organizations and we are delighted to be part of it. In addition to raising funds for Dubai Cares, the merchandise, which will be seen by the many millions of passengers using Dubai International Airport, will help raise awareness of Dubai Cares and all of the good work that it undertakes.
Dubai Cares was established in 2007 by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The company was established with the aim of improving access to primary education for children in developing countries, Dubai Cares works to eliminate the underlying causes that prevent children’s access to education.
Commenting on the retail collaboration with Dubai Duty Free, Tariq Al Gurg, CEO of Dubai Cares said,
“The UAE community including the government and corporate sectors and individuals have been extremely supportive of Dubai Cares’ initiatives and programs through various joint-campaigns, generous contributions and active participation. The funds raised from this initiative will help us achieve our objective of achieving the vision of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum of improving the lives of millions of children across the world by providing them with access to quality primary education.”
Introduced by Dubai Duty Free on May 29, the initial response to the Dubai Cares branded merchandise has been very positive with an expansion to the range currently under review.
Dubai Duty Free, which recorded sales of $1.14bn in 2009, is currently the largest single airport retail operation in the world based on turnover. With a retail area covering some 15,000 square metres, the operation employs 3,600 staff.