Qatar Duty Free named world’s best operator

Qatar Duty Free (QDF) has been named the World’s Leading Airport Duty Free Operator 2025 at the World Travel Awards Grand Final Gala, held in the Kingdom of Bahrain, marking a major international accolade for the retailer.

In a statement, Qatar Duty Free said the award represents the highest honour in its category and recognises its performance and service across the global travel retail industry. The World Travel Awards are decided through votes cast by travel and tourism professionals as well as consumers worldwide.

The win follows Qatar Duty Free’s success at regional level earlier this year, when it was named Middle East’s Leading Airport Duty Free Operator 2025 in October. That recognition secured its place in the global round and reinforced its position as a leading travel retail destination in the region.

Qatar Duty Free wins global title

The company operates at Hamad International Airport, where it manages more than 200 retail outlets and restaurants. The company said the award reflects its continued focus on delivering a high-quality shopping experience for travellers, alongside a broad mix of international brands, dining concepts and customer services.

The retailer has received several other industry accolades in 2025. These include Retailer of the Year at the Frontier Awards and World’s Best Airport Shopping at the Skytrax World Airport Awards, further highlighting its standing within the aviation and travel retail sectors.

Qatar Duty Free works closely with Qatar Airways and Hamad International Airport to deliver an integrated airport experience. The partnership aims to ensure consistency across retail, dining and passenger services, supporting the airport’s wider reputation as a five-star global hub.

The World Travel Awards were established to recognise excellence across travel, tourism and hospitality. The company said the latest award underlines its commitment to innovation, service quality and enhancing the overall airport experience for millions of passengers passing through Doha each year.