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29 March 2024

Dubai Duty Free sales up 12%

Airport retailer opened new outlets at Terminal 3 (FILE)

Published
By Staff

Dubai Duty Free sales jumped 12 per cent in the first quarter to reach Dh1.6 billion ($438 million) as the airport retailer opened new outlets at Terminal 3.

With the opening of Terminal 3's Concourse A in January 2013, Dubai Duty Free's retail footprint at Dubai International grew from 18,000 square metres to the current 26,000 square metres.

Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman of Dubai Duty Free, said: "We have had a very good start to the year and no doubt the opening of Concourse A has contributed towards this. The new facility has been extremely well received by passengers and it has enabled us to introduce a number of firsts, including a retail offer in the Emirates First Class lounge in Concourse A, which is doing very well. We have also been able to extend our existing product range and introduce some new brands, some of which are unique in the region."

Sales in Terminal 3, which is dedicated to Emirates operations, rose by 19 per cent and continues to be the biggest in terms of accumulative sales for Dubai Duty Free accounting for 61 per cent of total turnover. However, the average spend of passengers in Terminal 1, which accounts for 31 per cent of sales, is higher. Sales in Terminal 2 rose by an impressive 22 per cent for the first quarter.

Liquor, Perfumes and Gold held on to the top three spots category-wise in the first quarter of the year. Significant sales increases were evident in many categories, including Perfumes which rose by 16 per cent to reach Dhs246 million.

Confectionery sales also rose by 16 per cent to Dhs130 million, Electronics rose by 12 per cent to reach Dhs119 million, while Cosmetics sales rose by 13 per cent to reach Dhs109 million and Watches by 23 per cent to reach Dhs99 million.

In line with its recent expansion of the retail operation, recruitment at Dubai Duty Free continued apace in the first quarter of 2013 with 648 new sales assistants appointed, bringing the total staffing levels to 5,717.