Dubai Duty Free records $565mn in first-quarter sales after strong February performance
Dubai Duty Free has reported first-quarter sales of AED2.06 billion ($565 million), supported by a record February, which contributed AED709 million ($194 million) in monthly sales.
The February result marks a new monthly record, with average daily sales of AED25.3 million ($6.93 million).
'We are very pleased with our sales for the first three months of the year, especially in February when daily sales reached an average of AED25.3 million ($6.93 million) and kept pace with passenger growth. A lot of credit goes to our hard-working team of staff who achieve sales targets on an ongoing basis,' Ramesh Cidambi, Managing Director of Dubai Duty Free said.
Dubai Duty Free highlights perfumes, confectionery as top categories
The top five performing categories for the first quarter were Perfumes, Liquor, Tobacco, Gold and Confectionery.
Perfume sales reached AED371 million ($102 million), contributing 18 percent of total revenue. Liquor followed with AED258 million ($71 million) in sales. Tobacco recorded an 11 percent year-on-year increase to AED220 million ($60 million).
Gold sales increased marginally to AED212 million ($58 million), accounting for 10 percent of total revenue.
Confectionery took the fifth spot for the first time, posting a 57 percent increase over the same period last year, with sales reaching AED207 million ($57 million), also contributing 10 percent of total revenue.
Dubai Duty Free records surge in chocolate sales in Q1 2025
Cidambi attributed much of the category's growth to the performance of Dubai-branded chocolate products.
'The remarkable success of the 'Dubai' chocolate offering has contributed significantly to the surge in the Confectionary category with specialty brands such as Fix Chocolate, Locali, I Love Dubai, Bateel and Al Nassma collectively generated sales of AED80.4 million ($22 million). That figure represents over 1.2 million individual chocolate bars sold in the first quarter of 2025,' he added.
Sales in the renovated Arrivals shops reached AED125 million ($34 million) during the first quarter.
'We are very pleased with the newly renovated and refurbished retail shops in Terminals 1 and l 2 Arrivals with Terminal 3 Arrivals shop 4 due for completion next month. These enhancements are already elevating our Arrivals business,' Cidambi said.
Dubai Duty Free plans to expand its retail operations throughout 2025, including new luxury brand boutiques in Concourse A featuring Louis Vuitton, Cartier and Chanel.
The company will also host events in the second quarter of 2025. The Dubai Duty Free Spring Trials will take place at Newbury Racecourse in the UK on April 11 and 12. The UAE Nationals Cup is scheduled for May 3 at the Montgomerie Golf Club.
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