Dubai Airports has invited bids from specialist retail companies for the awarding of the official service concessions in the arrivals area of Terminal 1 at Dubai International. 

 

The move is linked to a major refurbishment project that will be carried out at Terminal 1 over the next year. The opportunity is available to telecommunications retail outlets, car rentals, currency exchange, hotel, tour operators, pharmacies, convenience stores, restaurants and coffee shops, a statement said.

 

Retail has become an increasingly important part of Dubai Airports’ non-aeronautical revenue, as Dubai International’s expanding network of destinations and rapidly growing passenger numbers allow brands to target a wide and cosmopolitan audience, it said.

 

“As one of the busiest airports in the world, and given the global attention generated by the recent opening of Concourse A, Dubai International offers potential bidders a very attractive proposition. With sustained passenger growth and our unique passenger profile, the case for continued growth within retail is proven,” said Eugene Barry, senior vice president, Commercial Unit at Dubai Airports.

 

Once complete, the refurbished Terminal 1 will offer passengers a vastly improved travelling experience. The project includes the reconfiguration and expansion of arrivals hall where all ‘meeters’ and greeters will be accommodated within a fully air-conditioned space with new food and retail outlets. The arrivals immigration hall will also be overhauled to improve passenger flow and reduce processing times for arriving passengers. The adjoining arrivals forecourt will be reconfigured to improve traffic flow and create a safer pedestrian environment for all passengers leaving the Terminal 1 arrivals hall.

 

The refurbishment of Terminal 1 will pave the way for work to begin on a new elevated train system which will link the facility to Concourse D, which is currently under construction. Upon completion Concourse D will become the new home of more than 100 international airlines that fly to and from Dubai International when it opens in 2015. 

 

Tender document for the retail bids will be available from March 1 at the Dubai Airports’ Commercial Unit, which is based at Dubai International’s Terminal 1, said the statement. - TradeArabia News Service