Dubai Duty Free (DDF) has announced a record half-year sales performance, with turnover reaching AED 4.118 billion (US$1.128 billion) for the first six months of 2025. This marks a 5.34% year-over-year increase, surpassing last year’s first-half record by AED 208.95 million (approximately US$57.24 million).
The airport retailer reported robust growth, particularly in April, May, and the first half of June, driven by a surge in travel during the Eid holiday and the early summer travel season.
Ramesh Cidambi, Managing Director of Dubai Duty Free, expressed satisfaction with the results. “We are very pleased with our record performance for the first half of 2025,” Cidambi stated. “Whilst we await the final passenger numbers for June 2025, the spend per passenger is likely to be better than last year’s June. This performance is a testament to our team’s hard work and the strength of Dubai as a global travel hub.”
DDF remains optimistic for the second half of the year, with plans for continued growth. Preparations are underway for the opening of three new luxury boutiques – Louis Vuitton, Chanel, and Cartier – in Terminal 3 Concourse A, signaling a strategic focus on high-end retail.
Top-performing categories maintained their positions, with Perfumes, Liquor, Cigarettes & Tobacco, Gold, and Confectionery leading sales.
- Perfume sales reached AED 744.24 million (US$203.90 million), contributing 18% of total revenue and showing a 5% increase over the same period last year.
- Liquor followed with sales of AED 513.37 million (US$140.65 million).
- Cigarettes & Tobacco saw a significant 12.24% year-on-year increase, with sales totaling AED 439.91 million (US$120.52 million).
- Gold sales totaled AED 416.90 million (US$114.22 million), accounting for 10.12% of total revenue and representing a 6.14% increase.
- Confectionery demonstrated robust growth, surging by 62.70% to reach AED 412.52 million (US$113.02 million), accounting for 10% of total revenue.
- Cosmetics also saw a notable increase of 3.36% to AED 201.51 million (US$55.21 million), contributing 4.89% of total revenue.
Spending trends across terminals showed positive momentum, with duty-free sales in Terminal 3 increasing by 6.37% and Terminal 1 rising by 5.25% for the first half of the year. All key passenger regions recorded positive sales growth, including Europe (up 16.89%), the Middle East (up 8.15%), the Russian region (up 4.41%), and the Indian subcontinent (up 1.02%).
–Input WAM
