Perfumes retained its position as the best-selling category with annual sales of Dhs1.1 billion (US$300 million), contributing 16% towards total sales
DUBAI: The New Year began on a high note for Dubai Duty Free (DDF) with the operation announcing record-breaking sales for 2017 of Dhs7.05 billion (US$1.93 billion), representing a 5.6% increase over the previous year.
The sign that a remarkable year was coming to a close was evident in December when a new monthly sales record of over Dhs 801 million (US$219 million) was achieved. The operation’s 34th Anniversary offer of a 25% discount on a wide range of merchandise over three days in December achieved sales of Dhs196 million (US$54 million).
Reflecting on another memorable year at Dubai Duty Free, Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman and CEO said: “We are pleased to announce such a positive year with 2017 marking our 34th year of business. The entire team at Dubai Duty Free has worked hard to provide passengers with a first class shopping experience at both Dubai International and Al Maktoum International and I join our Chairman, H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, in thanking them for their efforts.”
In 2017, the operation recorded a staggering 27.2 million sales transactions which average at 75,000 sales transactions per day, while a total of 73 million units of merchandise were sold.
Perfumes retained its position as the best-selling category with annual sales of Dhs1.1 billion (US$300 million), contributing 16% towards total sales.
Liquor and tobacco categories followed with liquor recording Dhs1.09 billion (US$298 million) in sales, and tobacco Dhs690.11 million (US$189 million), representing an increase of 2% and 19% respectively.
Cosmetics jumped to fourth place with sales increasing by 17% to Dhs626 million (US$172 million) for the year.
Other steep increases were seen in electronics which rose by 16% to Dhs547 million (US$150 million), mainly driven by new product launches from the likes of Apple. Watches rose by 13% to Dhs518 million (US$142 million), while handbags and small leather sales rose by 16% to Dhs187million (US$51 million).
Sales in Departures reached over Dhs6.1 billion (US$1.6 billion), representing 87% of total annual sales while Arrivals sales showed a 3.6% increase over last year and accounted for 10.8% of the total annual sales.
In addition to a remarkable turnover, 2017 provided Dubai Duty Free with another milestone in terms of growth and expansion including the opening of new Perfumes, Cosmetics, Liquor and Tobacco areas in Concourse C to complement the retail area around the Control Tower that opened in the end of 2016, opening of a Bulgari shop in Concourse B, new retail areas for Liquor and Gifts from Dubai in the departures terminal of Al Maktoum International Airport and the opening of a new shop in the Riverland area of the Dubai Parks and Resorts.
