Dubai Duty Free Sales Touch Dhs6.65bn In 2013

Dubai Duty Free (DDF) recorded sales worth Dhs6.65 billion ($1.8 billion) for 2013, representing an 11.4 per cent increase over 2012, it announced in a statement.

The airport retailer witnessed sales worth Dhs700 million in December, which included its 30th anniversary promotions. DDF said that it recorded around 215,000 transactions while sales touched Dhs111.88 million during its anniversary day on December 20, 2013.

DDF said that it recorded a total of 25,973,819 sales transactions in 2013 while it had an average of 71,161 transactions per day.

Perfumes retained its position as the best-selling product as sales touched Dhs1.06 billion, recording a 16 per cent year-on-year rise.

Liquor and gold followed closely with gold recording sales worth Dhs163 billion in 2013, representing a five per cent year-on-year increase.

Other top selling products at the DDF included confectionary, which saw sales rising by 12 per cent to reach Dhs520 million last year, watches, with sales rising by 16 per cent to touch Dhs459 million and cosmetics, which witnessed a 20 per cent rise in sales to Dhs446 million.

Sales in DDF departures rose by 11 per cent while arrivals recorded a 13 per cent rise over the last year. Terminal 2 also recorded a 22 per cent rise in sales, the airport retailer said.

DDF added over 28,000 square metres of retail space in 2013 with the opening of Concourse A and the passenger terminal at Al Maktoum International Airport.

“We are thrilled to announce such a positive year in 2013, which marked our 30th anniversary,” said Colm McLoughlin, executive vice chairman at DDF.

“The operation went from strength to strength with the opening of Concourse A in Terminal 3 in January and Al Maktoum International in October, with overall sales soaring to a new high.”

Dubai has been recording a steady rise in passenger numbers throughout last year. According to airport authorities, passenger traffic through Dubai International Airport rose 9.5 per cent in November 2013 compared to the same period in 2012 to reach 5.3 million people.