Robust travel demand, luxury expansion, and holiday traffic drive 5.34% year-on-year growth
Dubai Duty Free reported its highest-ever half-year sales, recording Dh4.118 billion ($1.12 billion) in revenue for the first six months of 2025, marking a 5.34% increase compared to the same period in 2024. The surge highlights the resilience of global travel through Dubai International Airport and the continued success of the retailer’s premium offerings, reported timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
Sales performance was especially strong during April, May, and early June, fuelled by Eid holiday traffic and the start of the summer travel season.
“We are very pleased with our record performance for the first half of 2025,” said Ramesh Cidambi, Managing Director of Dubai Duty Free. “This performance is a testament to our team’s hard work and the strength of Dubai as a global travel hub.”
Top-Selling Categories in H1 2025
Dubai Duty Free’s top five categories showed robust growth:
- Perfumes: Dh744.24 million ($203M), 18% of total sales (↑5%)
- Beverages: Dh513.37 million ($140M)
- Cigarettes & Tobacco: Dh439.91 million ($120M), (↑12.24%)
- Gold: Dh416.90 million ($114M), 10.12% of sales (↑6.14%)
- Confectionery: Dh412.52 million ($112M), (↑62.7%)
Cosmetics also saw a modest rise to Dh201.51 million ($55M), comprising 4.89% of total sales.
Terminal and Regional Performance
Significant gains were recorded across terminals:
- Terminal 3: ↑6.37%
- Terminal 1: ↑5.25%
Sales by region also improved:
- Europe: ↑16.89%
- Middle East: ↑8.15%
- Russia: ↑4.41%
- Indian Subcontinent: ↑1.02%
Looking Ahead: A Focus on Luxury
Following the completion of renovations at three Arrivals Shops, Dubai Duty Free is set for an expansive second half, including the opening of Louis Vuitton, Chanel, and Cartier boutiques in Terminal 3, Concourse A.
“These openings support our strategy of enhancing luxury retail at the airport,” Cidambi noted.
