Aer Rianta wins 10-year contract in Abu Dhabi

Aer Rianta International (ARI)has won a ten-year contract to run the duty free at Abu Dhabi International Airport' s new Midfield terminal.

The contract, which will start in December 2017, involves the retail of perfume, cosmetics, skincare, sunglasses and fashion jewellery categories at Abu Dhabi International Airport, the second largest airport in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Aer Rianta chief executive Jack MacGowan said: “This is a significant win for ARI, in what was one of the most competitive tender processes in recent travel retail history. It caps off a very successful year for ARI following on from our success in entering the Asia Pacific market by securing the Auckland contract and the hugely successful commercial redevelopment of T1 in Dublin airport”.

Abu Dhabi International Airport’ s new terminal will cater for a total capacity of 27.1 million annual passengers and will facilitate 28,000sq m of commercial space when it opens in late 2017. The entire duty free area covers 7,500sq m in total.

ARI runs airport retail businesses in eight countries across North America, the Middle East and Asia as well as The Loop outlets in Dublin and Cork. It also owns 20 per cent of Dusseldorf Airport.