Mr Colm McLoughlin began his retailing career in London in the 1960s working for the popular high-street chain of Woolworths, before moving back to Ireland to work for Shannon Duty Free. As General Manager of Shannon Duty Free, Mr McLoughlin was one of a team of ten from Aer Rianta (the Irish Airport Authority) who moved to Dubai in 1983 at the request of the Dubai Government, to set up Dubai Duty Free.

Mr McLoughlin went on to become the Managing Director of Dubai Duty Free, which