Dubai Duty Free 2017 sales hit record $ 1.9 b

Dubai Duty Free has announced record-breaking sales for 2017 of Dh 7.05 billion ($ 1.91 billion), representing a 5.6% increase over the previous year.

The 2017 sales figures included a new monthly record in December of over Dh 801 million ($ 218 million). The operation’s 34th anniversary offer of a 25% discount on a wide range of merchandise over three days in December achieved sales of Dh196 million ($53.3 million)

Executive Vice Chairman and CEO Colm McLoughlin said: “We are pleased to announce such a positive year with 2017 marking our 34th year of business. The entire team at Dubai Duty Free has worked hard to provide passengers with a first class shopping experience at both Dubai International and Al Maktoum International and I join our Chairman Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, in thanking them for their efforts.”

In 2017, the operation recorded a staggering 27.2 million sales transactions which average at 75,000 sales transactions per day, while a total of 73 million units of merchandise were sold.

From a category point of view, Perfumes retained its position as the best-selling category with annual sales of Dh 1.1 billion ($ 299.4 million), contributing 16% towards total sales at Dubai Duty Free.

Liquor and Tobacco categories followed with Liquor recording Dh 1.09 billion ($ 296.7 million) in sales, and Tobacco Dh 690.11 million ($ 187.8 million), representing an increase of 2% and 19% respectively.

Cosmetics jumped to fourth place with sales increasing by 17% to Dh 626 million ($ 170.4 million) for the year.

Other steep increases were seen in Electronics which rose by 16% to Dh 547 million ($ 148.8 million), mainly driven by new product launches from the likes of Apple. Watches rose by 13% to Dh 518 million ($ 141 million), while handbags and small leather sales rose by 16% to Dh 187 million ($ 50.9 million). Sales in Departures reached over Dh 6.1 billion ($ 1.6 billion), representing 87% of total annual sales while Arrivals sales showed a 3.6% increase over last year and accounted for 10.8% of the total annual sales.

In addition to a remarkable turnover, 2017 provided Dubai Duty Free with another milestones in terms of growth and expansion including the opening of new Perfumes, Cosmetics, Liquor and Tobacco areas in Concourse C to complement the retail area around the Control Tower that opened in the end of 2016,  opening of a Bulgari shop in Concourse B, new retail areas for Liquor and Gifts from Dubai in the departures terminal of Al Maktoum International Airport and the opening of a new shop in the Riverland area of the Dubai Parks and Resorts.