Dubai Duty Free opened for business on December 20th 1983 and over the past 28 years has grown to become the single largest airport retailer in the world.

Its founding principal of providing travellers with a first class retail experience in a shopper-friendly environment and a diverse range of products still holds true to this day.

Employing over 4,000 people, the operation has consistently raised the benchmark for airport retailing in the Middle East.

2011 has been a phenomenal year for Dubai Duty Free and sales are expected to reach Dhs5.3 billion (US$1.45 billion) by the end of December, which represents a 15% over last year and this is quite an achievement.

To date Dubai Duty Free has received more than 200 awards which bear testimony to the operation's retail success. Awards presented this year include the Global Traveler Award for 'Best Duty Free Shop', the DFNI Asia Pacific award for "Middle East Travel Retailer of the Year", the Business Traveller ME Award for 'Best Airport in Duty Free Shopping' and the 'Brand of the Year' award. The retailer was also honoured at the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Patrons of the Arts Award. More recently, the operation was presented with the 'Retail Company of the Year' by the Arabian Business Achievement Awards.

Currently operating some 18,000 square metres of retail space at Dubai International Airport, the operation will grow by a further 8,000 square metres with the opening of Concourse 3, which is due to open late 2012, will be dedicated to Emirates Airline.

In addition, Dubai Duty Free is preparing to open its first hotel, the Jumeirah Creekside Hotel, in 2012. The five-star property will be managed by Dubai-based Jumeirah Group, and is located on the grounds of the Aviation Club in Garhoud.

Dubai Duty Free can look back on an action packed year that has seen the operation sponsoring, and in certain cases organizing, some of the greatest sporting events of the year.

Staged in February, the emirate welcomed the world's top golfers to the Dubai Desert Classic, the PGA tournament that attracts the top golfers in the world. As an official supporter of the tournament, Dubai Duty Free joined the crowds at the Emirates Golf Club in cheering on the new champion, Alvaro Quiros of Spain. Following his historic win at the Dubai Desert Classic, the new champion conducted the draw for the Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise to win a Mercedes Benz S500.

While the successful running of the retail operation is a major focus for Dubai Duty Free, the operation is highly committed to promoting Dubai through a series of high level sporting events including the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.

This year the tournament celebrated the 11th anniversary of the Women's event, while the ATP men's event celebrated nineteen years of world class tennis. In 2011, the Danish superstar and World No. 1, Caroline Wozniacki won her first Dubai title while World No. 1, Novak Djokovic successfully retained his title for the third consecutive year. The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships celebrated yet another success after being named the ATP World Tour 500 Tournament of the Year, which was the tournament's 15th ATP award since 1993, the tournament's inaugural year.

A keen supporter of horseracing events at home and overseas, the operation sponsors the US$5 million Dubai Duty Free Group 1 race at Dubai World Cup, and also oversees the successful running of two raceday weekends at the historical Newbury Racecourse in England, the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup in Ascot and the Euro 1.25 million Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh Racecourse in Ireland.

Other sports to benefit from Dubai Duty Free's support include Class I Powerboat racing, Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby 7's , Dubai World Championship-Race to Dubai and Basketball to name a few.

By supporting so many events at the highest level and all around the globe, Dubai Duty Free is effectively promoting Dubai's sporting, leisure and business facilities, which are second to none.