These were the top 5 best selling categories in Dubai Duty Free in 2019

Airport retailer Dubai Duty Free has announced that it recorded “record” annual sales of Dhs7.406bn ($2.029bn) in 2019.

The retailer crossed $2bn of sales on December 26, with a huge surge of $30.59m made on its 36th anniversary day on December 20, when it offered a 25 per cent discount.

In 2019, a total of 24.284 million sales transactions were recorded – an average of 66,500 sales transactions per day, while a total of over 64.578 million units of merchandise were sold.

The top five selling categories for the year were –

1. Perfumes

Sales of perfumes, which rose by 2 per cent over 2018, reached Dhs1.124bn and accounted for 15 per cent of the total annual sales.

2. Liquor

Liquor recorded sales of Dhs1.110bn and also accounted for around 15 per cent of the total.

3. Cosmetics

Cosmetics saw Dhs848.74m in sales, up 11 per cent compared to 2018, and contributed to 11 per cent of the total.

4. Tobacco

Tobacco recorded sales amounting to Dhs817.16m and accounted for 11 per cent of total revenues.

5. Electronics

With sales of Dhs558.05m, electronics rounded off the top five.

While sales in Departures reached Dhs6.6bn, representing 89 per cent of annual sales, Arrivals recorded sales worth Dhs664.23m.

Dubai Duty Free’s executive vice chairman and CEO Colm McLoughlin said the retailer was looking to further expand operations this year.

“We have continued to develop our retail offer in all the terminals and that included the opening of a Chanel boutique, a Maison Christian Dior shop and a Gucci boutique [in 2019]. We are also looking forward to the opening of the new 1,100sqm retail space in Terminal 3 Arrivals this month. The new arrivals shop is much more visible to passengers in the baggage area and has a fantastic liquor retail offer,” he said.

“In addition, we will continue the second phase of the refurbishment of the two FoodPlus shops in Concourse B and Dubai Duty Free will continue to enhance its retail offer within the Fashion category in the second half of the year,” he added.

The retailer is also developing its leisure business.

“The Jumeirah Creekside Hotel continues to do well and The Irish Village in Garhoud celebrated its 23rd birthday in October. We opened the third Irish Village in Dubai Studio One Hotel and we will be opening a fourth Irish Village at the Expo grounds this October,” McLoughlin stated.