Dubai Duty Free 2016 sales reach US$1.85bn

Dubai Duty Free saw annual sales of US$1.85 billion in 2016, with liquor reported to be the second best-selling category at US$295.4 million.

Liquor is the second best-selling category with sales of US$295.4 million

Perfumes continues to be the highest selling category at US$306.85 million, representing 16.55% of total annual sales.

Liquor followed with sales of US$295.4 million while cigarettes and tobacco came in third with sales of US$160.7 million. Cosmetics came in fourth followed by confectionery.

During the year DDF recorded 27.119 million sales transactions, which amounts to 74,097 a day. Of these, 86.66% were in departures stores – which were equivalent to US$1.6 billion.

In 2016, Dubai Duty Free opened 7,000 square metres of retail in Concourse D, bringing the retail area under its operation to 36,000 square metres across both Dubai International and Al Maktoum airports.

Colm McLoughlin, executive vice chairman and CEO of DDF, said: “Overall, it has been a good year for the operation and I would like to thank H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, president of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and chairman of DDF for his ongoing support.

“There is a lot to look forward to in 2017, including the improvement of our retail offer both in Dubai International Airport’s Concourse C and in Al Maktoum International Airport’s Passenger Terminal Building (AMIA PTB).”

During 2017 Dubai Duty Free plans to renovate the departures and apron levels of Concourse C and unveil new food and beverage outlets at the Jumeirah Creekside Hotel.

Last month, Grey Goose launched its “largest ever” travel retail activation as part of its ‘Gift of the Extraordinary’ campaign, taking place at Dubai International Airport.