Dubai Duty Free achieves record July sales surpassing AED638 million

Dubai Duty Free has delivered another standout performance for the month of July, posting sales of AED638.8 million ($175 million) and marking 5.86 per cent up on the same period last year.

It surpasses the previous July record of AED602.8 million ($165 million) set in 2023 and is 9.7 per cent higher than July 2024.

This places July 2025 in the ninth place amongst the Top 10 months in Dubai Duty Free's history.

The year-to-date growth of 5.86 per cent is particularly notable given that passenger growth for the same period is expected to be less than 3 per cent.

Speaking to Dubai Eye 103.8's Business Breakfast show, Ramesh Cidambi, Managing Director of Dubai Duty Free, said "achieving nearly 10 per cent sales growth in a month when we estimate passenger traffic remained relatively flat is a testament to our team's dedication and product offering".

"This outstanding performance reflects the resilience of our retail operation and the continued demand for world-class shopping experiences," he added.

Perfume, gold and confectionery were among the top five product categories in July, with confectionery marking an incredible 57 per cent increase over the same month last year, with perfume sales rising by 10.3 per cent and gold up by 15.5 per cent. 

Other notable performers were watches with sales increase of 18.4 per cent and precious jewellery with an increase of 16.8 per cent.

July's sales surge was fuelled in part by a growing appetite for iconic luxury brands. Flagship brands such as Chanel, Louis Vuitton and Cartier were standout performers, reflecting sustained demand for high-end fashion and accessories at DXB. Dubai Duty Free's CA and CB Fashion Boutiques marked a 11.36 per cent growth over the same period last year.

"Given the recent media reports outlining the difficulties facing global luxury brands, we are happy to buck that trend in our luxury Boutiques, where we are seeing continued demand for select brands," added Cidambi. DDF's pre-loved luxury boutique, REKLAIM, launched in December 2024, also showed growing momentum. It generated AED1.6 million ($445K) in sales in July alone. The stand-out performer was Rolex watches, with a total of 16 sold in July alone.