Driving Duty Free, Supporting Irish Racing and Making a Difference

Colm McGloughlin has spent the last 40 years of his life building Dubai Duty-Free into one of the most successful retail enterprises in the world with a turnover that this year will break all previous records and exceed €2 Billion.

Not bad for what was originally to have been a six-month contract in the Emirate.

Born in Ballinasloe and destined for dentistry until a summer trip to London opened up his eyes to the joys of work, he has done most things in life from laboring and bus conducting to picking fruit and setting out on a retail career with Woolworths.

On a trip home he applied for and got a job working in Shannon Duty-Free, the original foundation for the Duty-Free sector and in 1983 he took the chance to head down to the desert and see where that took him.

He’s back in Ireland this week, as he is every year for the past 16 years, as the main man behind the sponsorship of the Dubai Duty-Free Irish Derby at the Curragh.

We had a cup of tea at the K Club as he prepared to host the Golf Classic that is part of the supporting programme of activities and which serves as an important global gathering of the industry he has been a part of for so long.

“It was more than 20 years ago that Michael Osborne asked us to sponsor a race at the Curragh,” he said in his quiet voice that still has echoes of the West.

“We were big players in sports sponsorship at the time, in tennis and in golf, and we looked at it and thought it was a good idea so we got involved.”

It does no harm that the ruling Maktoum family are deeply involved in racing and when the chance to broaden the involvement to take on one of the world’s most prestigious races as the centerpiece of the partnership that was also seen as a winner.

This year’s entire card will be part of the world totalisator pool meaning a threefold at the very least increase in betting turnover and a higher visibility than ever before in markets all around the world.  Markets that are important to Dubai from a travel and tourism point of view, from Australia and Asia to Europe and the United States.

That it should be rich in narratives with Aidan O’Brien bidding for a 100th European Classic and Jessica Harrington for a first-ever Irish Derby after recovery from illness that would have floored most, adds to the sense of excitement about the weekend.

But Dubai Duty Free’s involvement has always been about more than the race itself.

“We have a Dubai Duty Free Foundation that has distributed millions of dirham, dollars and euros around the world, helping people to see, combatting poverty and supporting inclusion,” said McLoughlin.

“This year once again we are partnering with Barretsown Camp down the road from the Curragh and the support we are giving will enable 1,000 sessions for children with extra needs to experience what it is like to ride ponies.”

“We are going there on Saturday morning to see the operation in action and that is so important a part of what we do.”

“Of course, it is special to be able to support the Curragh, and the race on a global scale but it also works well for us.  We measure the equivalent of the publicity that all our sponsorships generate and it stacks up very well.”

Nothing is ever a done deal in sport and the Dubai Duty-Free partnership has always been on a rolling annual basis but the extension this year has seen an increase in prize money from €1 million to €1.25 million and three of the first four home in the Epsom Derby, including the winner Auguste Rodin will line up for the first Sunday renewal since 2011.

Asked if he could see a scenario in which there would be a special celebration of the 20th year of sponsorship in four years’ time, McLoughlin smiled and said “wouldn’t that be lovely.”

That will be music to the ears of Brian Kavanagh and Evan Arkwright at the Curragh and to the wider Irish racing community.

Sunday will be a special day with the potential for either a historic or an immensely emotional win.  The red branding of Dubai Duty Free will serve as the backdrop for whoever wins and will likely do so for a few years to come yet, certainly if the CEO and Executive Vice Chairman continues to wield the influence he does.