Qatar’s Hamad International Airport was voted the World’s Best Airport for Shopping for the second year in a row at the Skytrax World Airport Awards 2024 held last week. The accolade is a testament to the Qatar Airways hub’s determination to create a world-class business destination since its inception in April 2014.
The airport, which received a record 45. 9 million passengers in 2023, also regained with this award the most prestigious name of “World’s Best Airport”, the maximum influencer in the airport industry. The Doha-based hub snatched that crown from Singapore. He admired Changi Airport.
Hamad International and its Southeast Asian rival have been battling for the more sensible spot in recent years, but the Qataris have put their foot on the gas after the pandemic. Earlier this year, Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, chief executive of Qatar Airways Group, said: “We are not only moving people, but we are also shaping travel for the long term. Our accomplishments are a reflection of our unwavering commitment to service excellence. Buying first-class food is a vital component of our overall proposition.
In some places, such comments would arguably be considered mere rhetoric, however, Hamad International has evidence of its commitment to the speed of its passengers’ recovery from Covid, and the scale of the procurement offer implemented through Qatar Duty Free (QDF). the wholly-owned retail operator of the airport.
Last year, passenger numbers increased by more than 30% compared to last year, despite a tricky comparison to 2022, when the airport hosted the FIFA World Cup, the first time it was held in an Arab country. Retail also had a record year and in January I estimated that QDF had surpassed the $1 billion mark in annual retail sales.
Commercial installations and arrivals of other brands have intensified frequently. In 2023, QDF says it topped “many global firsts,” adding to a footprint of more than two hundred retail and restaurant locations. Arrivals included new concepts from Bally, Montblanc and Tag Heuer, as well as Souq Al Matar, a shopping and dining mall that reimagines a classic Qatari souk.
The space, which opened in December, is home to seven convenience stores and two restaurants. The souk is an example of what QDF calls a concept of “transit tourism” at the airport. The company believes it’s taking the term “sense of belonging,” a word that’s overloaded in duty-free, to the next level. The authenticity of the architectural design helps remind travelers of the styles, aromas, and flavors of Qatar.
QDF’s Tab Musleh: “With a plethora of new openings and inventions underway, we will continue to find. . . [ ] New tactics to differentiate our offering.
Restaurants range from chic food courts and cafes like Ralph’s Coffee and the world’s first Oreo Café in an airport, to vegan eateries and celebrity eateries like Gordon Ramsay Burger. There’s a “essentials” store called Day2Day for budget travelers, while luxury watch lovers can check out the first TimeVallée in the Middle East or Fendi’s two-story boutique.
A second Dior boutique also opened in April and a Dior Spa is expected to open in May. Tab Musleh, Senior Vice President, Qatar Duty Free, commented: “Being ranked among travellers as the world’s airport to buy groceries validates our vision. . Pioneering approaches such as “transit tourism” have made our country a destination in its own right. With a multitude of new openings and inventions underway, we will continue to localize new tactics to differentiate our offering.
This differential has made the airport a Skytrax winner, as the CEO of Qatar Airways Group knows. He pointed to a comment that brands and stores would do well to follow: “There is no end in the quest to deliver exceptional travel experiences. Our purpose is to frequently refine travel in 2024 to meet the ever-increasing expectations of our most discerning passengers.