Middle East conference programme finalised

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Final touches have been added to the programme of the first Middle East Duty Free Conference which will take place on December 16 and 17 2002 in the Al Bustan Rotana Hotel, Dubai

The Middle East Duty Free Association working closely with Tax Free World Association and Moodie International has put together a packed programme of speakers and panel discussions at the event. Over 200 delegates have already registered, many of these will also take part in the 10th Dubai Duty Free Golf Cup on December 14 and 15.

The conference will feature an opening address by HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman of Dubai Department of Civil Aviation and president of Emirates Group, and presentations by Middle East expert and Irish Euro MP Gerard Collins, the director general of the Dubai Department of Economic Development Mohammed Ali Alabbar, MEDFA president John Sutcliffe and TFWA president Erik Juul-Mortensen.

Delegates will hear filmed interviews with leading operators, retailers and authorities from across the region. Later that morning they will be able to put questions raised by the interviews and their own reflections to a panel of leading regional industry figures.

Two expert teams led by Dermot Davitt, DFNI editor in chief, and Deborah Sidey, editor of Frontier, will debate whether the consumer is ignored in duty free. Jonathan Barlow, editor of Travel Retail Markets, will present original consumer research into the GCC's youth market for luxury brands and designer labels.

Confectionery and its role in travel retail will be the subject of a panel discussion featuring representatives of some of the biggest names in the category and key areas of development such as India, Saudi Arabia and inflight sales across the region will each be subjected to a thorough analysis. Bob McFadyen, head of retail at Sydney Airport, will add his international perspective to this major event.