By Staff Reporter
Dubai Duty Free recorded its highest-ever August sales, reaching AED646.23 million (US$177 million) and surpassing the previous peak of AED588.13 million set in 2018.
The milestone marks a nearly 10% increase over the earlier record and a 15% rise compared to August 2024.
The airport retailer averaged AED20.8 million in daily sales during the month, with passenger traffic estimated at 275,000 per day. Managing Director Ramesh Cidambi credited the achievement to strong retail strategies and team efforts, noting that sales outpaced passenger growth by about 9%.
Key categories drove the momentum, led by confectionery with a 68.9% increase, followed by gold at 28.55% and perfumes at 13.13%. Luxury boutiques also delivered strong results, with Cartier sales up 29.33%. Overall, the top 10 categories grew 15%, even excluding confectionery’s exceptional gains.
Sales growth was broad-based across locations and markets, with particularly strong performances in Concourses A and B, as well as from passengers traveling to the U.S. and the Middle East.
Year-to-date sales now stand at AED5.4 billion (US$1.48 billion), up 6.93% from last year. Dubai Duty Free is set to build on this momentum with the launch of new Louis Vuitton and Cartier boutiques in Concourse A this month, alongside ongoing refurbishment projects aimed at enhancing the retail experience.
News Source: Dubai Media Office
