Buoyed by record sales in October and November, Dubai Duty Free predicts sales this year will hit Dh810 million, about 22.5 per cent higher than in 1999 when they reached Dh660 million.

Dubai Duty Free began operations in December 1983 and recorded turnover of $20 million in 1984. Turnover for 2000 is approaching Dh810 million, Managing Director Colm McLoughlin said.

November sales reached an all-time high of Dh76.5 million, exceeding the previous record in October, which topped at Dh72.2 million. November also set a daily record on November 24 when sales hit Dh3.174 million.

"The opening of the spectacular new shopping complex in Sheikh Rashid Terminal has without doubt contributed greatly to these record sales figures," McLoughlin said.

"The modern and customer-friendly environment covers 5,400 square metres and has provided us with the perfect backdrop to display an extensive range of top quality products."

While traditional best-selling categories such as gold and perfumes continued to rise by 10 per cent and 17 per cent, categories such as jewellery and ladieswear rose 80 per cent and 110 per cent respectively.

"We have dramatically extended categories such as ladieswear by introducing a whole new range of labels which have greatly improved the shopper's choice," McLoughlin said.