02-07-2025
Dubai Duty Free posts record half-year sales with revenue of Dh4.118 billion
Dubai Duty Free on Wednesday announced that half-year sales posted a 5.34 per cent year-on-year increase, with turnover reaching Dh4.118 billion ($1.128 billion) for the first six months of 2025. This exceeded last year's previous record turnover for the first half of the year by Dh208.95 million.
The airport retailer recorded robust growth in April, May and the first half of June, with sales buoyed by a surge in travel over the Eid holiday and the early summer travel season.
Dubai Duty Free managing director Ramesh Cidambi said: 'We are very pleased with our record performance for the first half of 2025. Whilst we await the final passenger numbers for June 2025, the spend per passenger is likely to be better than last year June. This performance is a testament to our team's hard work and the strength of Dubai as a global travel hub.'
Perfumes, beverages, cigarettes & tobacco, gold and confectionery retained the top five category positions. Perfume sales reached Dh744.24 million, contributing 18 per cent of total revenue and showing an increase of five per cent over the same period last year. Beverages followed with sales of Dh513.37 million, while cigarettes & tobacco sales rose 12.24 per cent year-on-year with sales of Dh439.91 million. Gold sales amounted to Dh416.90 million, contributing 10.12 per cent of total revenue and an increase of 6.14 per cent. Confectionery in particular continued to demonstrate strong growth, achieving Dh412.52 million, marking an 62.70 per cent increase over the same period last year and accounting for 10 per cent of total revenue.
Another notable increase was seen in cosmetics, which rose by 3.36 per cent to Dh201.51 million contributing 4.89 per cent of total revenue.
Spending trends across terminals continued to increase with duty free sales in Terminal 3 increasing by 6.37 per cent for the first half of the year, while Terminal 1 rose by 5.25 per cent.
All key passenger regions showed positive sales during the first half of the year, with Europe up 16.89 per cent, the Russian region up 4.41 per cent, the Indian-sub continent up 1.02 per cent and the Middle East up 8.15 per cent.
Looking ahead, Dubai Duty Free will continue to enhance its retail operation following the successful renovations of its three Arrivals Shops in the first half of the year.
The company remains optimistic for the second half of the year, with preparations underway a busy summer and traditional busy last quarter.
'We are looking forward to an equally busy second half of the year. Plans are very much in place for the opening of three luxury boutiques in Terminal 3 Concourse A including Louis Vuitton, Chanel and Cartier,' added Cidambi.
