Dubai Duty Free Half Year Sales Reach $772 Million

As summer travel moves into top gear, Dubai Duty Free has announced a 11 per cent increase in sales for the first half of the year, with turnover reaching Dh2.818 billion ($772 million) and placing the operation well on track for annual sales of Dh6 billion ($1.64 billion).

Liquor, Perfumes and Gold retained the top three category positions, with Perfumes in particular showing strong growth with sales increase of 16 per cent to Dh420 million ($115 million) year-to-date. Sales of Confectionery was up by 18 per cent to Dh224 million ($61 million), while Electronics rose by 13 per cent to Dh222 million ($61 million) and accounted for 8 per cent of total revenue. Other notable increases were seen in Cosmetics, which rose by 18 per cent.
 
Spending trends across all three terminals continued to increase, with duty free sales in Terminal 2 increasing by 18 per cent for the first half of the year. Sales in Terminals 1 and 3 rose by 11 per cent and 10 per cent, respectively, while overall arrival sales rose by 15 per cent.

Commenting on the first half sales figures, Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman of Dubai Duty Free, said: “We are pleased with our first half performance and are looking forward to an equally busy second half of the year. Plans are very much in place for the opening of Concourse 3 in early 2013 and we are busy working towards the final fit-out of the new retail area and ensuring our recruitment plans are in line with our expanded retail area, which will reach 26,000 square metres with the opening of Concourse 3.”

Recruitment at Dubai Duty Free continued in the second quarter of 2012, with 528 new sales assistants appointed, bringing the number of employees to 4,232.

Meanwhile on July 1, the operation marked the opening of the Dubai Duty Free-owned Jumeirah Creekside Hotel. The 292 room five-star property is managed by Dubai-based Jumeirah Group and is located on the grounds of the Aviation Club in Garhoud.