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 is one of the leading airport retailers in the world with sales turnover of US$2.015 billion in 2018.

In 2011, Mr McLoughlin was named Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of Dubai Duty Free and its subsidiary businesses which include The Irish Village both in Garhoud, Riverland Dubai and Studio One Hotel, The Century Village and the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium, home to the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.

A keen philanthropist, Mr McLoughlin established the Dubai Duty Free Foundation in 2004 and since then has supported 44 local and 55 overseas charities.