DUBAI
Dubai Duty Free (DDF) is hailing 2017 as a record year after its annual sales rose 5.6 per cent to Dh7.05 billion.
December saw a new monthly sales record, the firm said on Wednesday, with total sales of Dh801 million. A three-day sales discount of 25 per cent during the month to mark the firm’s 34th anniversary saw sales of Dh196 million.
Perfumes remained the top-selling category, with annual sales of Dh1.1 billion accounting for 16 per cent of the firm; s total sales. Liquor and tobacco were the second and third best performing categories, with sales of Dh1.09 billion and Dh690 million respectively — up 2 per cent and 19 per cent.
Executive Vice-Chairman and CEO Colm McLoughlin said in a statement: “We are pleased to announce such a positive year with 2017 marking our 34th year of business. The entire team at Dubai Duty Free has worked hard to provide passengers with a first class shopping experience at both Dubai International and Al Maktoum International.”
During the year, the firm said it recorded a total of 27.2 million sales transactions, an average of 75,000 a day, with 73 million sales units sold.
Sales of cosmetics rose 17 per cent to a total of Dh626 million. Electronics sales were up 16 per cent to Dh547 million, driven largely by new launches from firms such as Apple, DDF said in a press statement.
Sales of watches were up 13 per cent to Dh518 million, with handbags and small leather items up 16 per cent to Dh187 million.
DDF said 87 per cent of its sales were made in its shops in Departures, accounting for a total of Dh6.1 billion, with arrival sales increasing by 3.6 per cent to account for 10.8 per cent of total sales.
During the year the firm opened new sales areas in Concourse C of Dubai International Airport, and a new Bulgari shop in Concourse B. It also opened new retail areas in Al Maktoum International Airport, and a shop in the Riverland area of Dubai Parks and Resorts.
