Dubai: Airport retailer Dubai Duty Free (DDF) recorded Dh1.75 billion in sales during the first quarter of this year, marking a 10 per cent increase over the corresponding period last year, according to a statement on Wednesday.
Sales were up across all three terminals, with a 23 per cent rise in Terminal 2 and an 11 per cent growth in Terminal 3, which accounts for 62 per cent of the retailer’s total turnover.
Perfume, beverages and gold were the top selling categories during the first quarter, followed by cosmetics, handbags and small leather products, and “gifts from Dubai”.
Sales of perfume grew by 16 per cent to Dh286.4 million, while sales of cosmetics reached Dh141.3 million (up 30 per cent), handbags and small leather products touched Dh25 million (up 62 per cent) and “gifts from Dubai” reached Dh33 million (up 9 per cent).
Forecast
“We have had a very good start to the year and are very much on track for our sales forecast of Dh7 billion,” said Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman of DDF, in a statement. He added that the expansion and upgrade of Terminal 2 late last year helped boost sales, and the project’s final phase, which includes a new shop, will help boost sales further.
Increased passenger traffic and Dubai’s position as a hub for luxury retail, attracting high-income consumers, have helped drive DDF’s sales, according to Colin Beaton, Managing Director at Limelight Creative Services, a boutique retail consultancy.
DDF’s sales touched Dh6.65 billion last year, representing an 11.4 per cent growth over 2012.
