The Middle East Duty Free Association (MEDFA) became an officially recognised entity within the global duty free and travel retail business in May 2001. MEDFA's founding membership comprised of nine of the leading travel retail organisations of the Middle East and quickly grew to 21 members within its first 2 years and now MEDFA membership include 30 members in 8 years..

MEDFA is set up as an establishment within the Dubai Airport Free Zone and operates as a non-profit making trade association of Middle East-based retail organisations operating within the global duty free and travel retail industry. Its raison d'être was to create a body that would bring official recognition to the region's duty free industry, raise awareness of the industry's contribution to the greater travel and tourism industry infrastructure and provide representation for its member companies. Its main objectives are to:

  • Encourage closer links between retailers and brand suppliers in the
  • Middle East in order to facilitate growth of the industry in this region
  • Group together all persons who are active, or who show an interest in these fields
  • Organize seminars, conferences, and training programs related to the duty free retail industry in this region
  • Represent the regions duty free industry visavis government agencies and the travel industry

Another key objective of the association is to encourage positive working dynamics between retail members and their brand suppliers which at a future point in MEDFA's development will be eligible for membership. At present, however, the focus is on grouping together as many Middle East based duty free retailers as possible to not only facilitate the growth of the region's industry, but to establish standards for quality a hallmark of duty free trading in the Middle East.

MEDFA's objective of organising conferences, and seminars was realised in 2002 with the inauguration of the annual regional industry conference. The Middle East Duty Free Conference was held for the first seven years in U.A.E. The 2008 Conference built on our previous success, welcomed in Abu Dhabi over 400 executives representing multinational and regional companies arriving from 32 countries.

In 2009, the conference will take place again in Dubai on November 23-24. MEDFA retains the Tax Free World Association as its managing partner. MEDFA's event has certainly set a benchmark for quality regional conferences.

“Building Service Excellence - Train the Trainer” a 3 days training program was held in Dubai on June 19-21, 2006 at the Aviation Club. This was the 1st training event organized by MEDFA

“Advanced Negotiation Skills” The 2nd MEDFA Training Program took place in Oman during May 07 at Shangri-La Hotel. The program was addressed to Duty Free Senior Executives where 24 participants attended from MEDFA member companies and operators.

“Cross Cultural Mangement skills” The 3rd Training program which was conducted by HILLCREST, took place in the UAE on March 27-28, 2008 at the Fujairah Rotana Hotel. 20 participants were sent by the MEDFA members companies and operators.

“Train the Trainer Program” This 4th training program was highly appreciated by all the 20 attendees who enjoyed all the new information and Training techniques delivered by Mr. Bob Pike, Chairman and CEO of “The Bob Pike Group”. The training took place in Dubai at the Murooj Rotana Hotel on March 2-3, 2009.

It is a privilege for MEDFA to be part in the growth and progress of the Duty free industry, the challenge remains and we look forward for new projects to maintain our standards of quality and value.

The challenge remains and we look forward for new projects to maintain our standards of quality and value.

MEDFA Board members are elected for a two-year term. Elections for the new term 2009-2011 were held in Dubai on April 7, 2009.

Board Officers:

  • PRESIDENT
    Anthony Chalhoub - Managing Director/ Habchi & Chalhoub
  • VICE PRESIDENT
    Kamal Toulan - Managing Director/ International Duty Free Trading Agencies – I.D.F.
  • TREASURER
    Erik Van der Veen - General Manager/ Dufry Sharjah
  • SECRETARY GENERAL
    Sherif Toulan  – General Manager /Iinternational Duty Free Agencies Ltd

Board Members:

  • Sean Staunton  – Manager - Operations /Dubai Duty Free
  • John Sutcliffe - Managing Director/ Aer Rianta Int’l Middle East  
  • Dan Cappell -  Vice President – Non Aeronautical BD ADAC - Abu Dhabi Airports Company
  • Olivier Charriaud – CEO/ Tax Free World Association
  • Pedro Badanelli – CED/ Aldeasa Jordan Airport Duty Free Shops Ltd 
  • John Sime - Vice President DFS/ Emirates Airline
  • Tarek Hamila – Managing Director/ Hamila Duty Free
    .

MEDFA Members:

  • HABCHI & CHALHOUB – Represented by Managing Director, Mr. Anthony CHALHOUB
  • Hamila Duty Free -  Represented by Managing Director, Mr. Tarek HAMILA
  • DUFRY SHARJAH – Represented by General Manager, Mr. Erik VAN DER VEEN
  • Emirates Airlines – Represented by Vice President DFS, Mr. John SIME
  • DUBAI DUTY FREE – Represented by Managing Director, Mr. Colm MCLOUGHLIN
  • AerRianta Int’l Middle East – Represented by Managing Director, Mr. John SUTCLIFFE
  • Abu Dhabi Airports Company – Represented by Vice President – Non Aeronautical BD ADAC, Mr. Dan CAPPEL
  • Tax Free World Association – Represented by CEO, Mr. Olivier CHARRIAUD
  • Int’l Duty Free Trading Agencies – Represented by Managing Director, Mr. Kamal TOULAN
  • Jordanian Duty Free Shops Co – Represented by general Manager, Mr. Haitham AL MAJALI
  • Bahrain Duty Free – Represented by the General Manager,  Mr. Steve O’CONNOR
  • Duty Free Co – Represented by Managing Director, Mr. Abdallah Al SHANFARI
  • Traveller Limited - Represented by the General Manager,  Mr. Rami MADI
  • Saudia Skysales - Represented by the General Manager , Mr. Abdel Wahab SAATI
  • Phoenicia Trading (Afro-Asia) - Represented by the President,  Mr. Mohamed ZEIDAN
  • Qatar Duty Free - Represented by the General Manager, Mr. Bill MAXWELL
  • Int’l Duty Free Trading Agencies Ltd – Represented by Mr. Sherif TOULAN
  • Muscat Duty Free – Represented by General Manager, Mr. Tom BYRNE
  • Cairo Airport Duty Free Co. – Represented By Deputy General Manager, Mrs. Nadia RASHAD
  • Egypt Air Duty Free Shops – Represented by Vice President, Mr. Abdel Kader KATAMISH
  • Aldeasa Jordan Airport Duty Free Shops Ltd  –  Represented by CED Mr. Pedro BADANELLI
  • Aldeasa That ES-Salasil Kuwait Duty Free – Represented by General Manager, Mr. Hassan SHISHANI
  • Shahed Duty Free Shops Co. –  Represented by Managing Director,  Mr. Hoshang NASRI
  • Saresco Duty Free  – Represented by CEO, Mr. Claude BENITAH
  • Mauritius Duty Free Paradise  –  Represented by  CEO, Mr. Mohinder Shakeel DYALL
  • Tourvest Duty Free – Represented by CEO, Mr. Selwin GRIMSLEY
  • Hamila Distribution – Represented by Managing Director, Mrs. Mariem BEN CHEIKH
  • SAUDI DUTY FREE –Represented by the General Manager Mr.John REYNOLDS.
  • Alpha Orient Lanka – Represented by the General Manager Mr. Maher Qassab
  • Aphrodite Duty Free Shops -  Represented by the General Manager Mr. Karl Raphael

MEDFA Membership Information

Download MEDFA Membership Form