Dubai Duty Free posts all-time annual sales high of AED7.9b

Dubai Duty Free completed 2024 with a record annual turnover of AED 7.901 billion ($2.16 billion) as sales surged towards the end of the year. 

December set an all-time monthly record with sales of AED 821.94 million ($225.19 million), a 2 per cent increase over December 2023, which until now was the highest-grossing month in Dubai Duty Free’s history.

The December performance was fuelled by Dubai Duty Free’s 41st anniversary celebrations on 20 December when the retailer offered a 25 per cent discount on a wide range of goods, resulting in a AED 59.99 million ($16.44 million) shopping spree during the 24-hour period.

This performance followed strong sales in November, which were also up year-on-year.

Confectionery was the best-performing category in December with sales showing a remarkable 29.46 per cent increase over December 2023.

The operation recorded over 20.733 million sales transactions throughout the year, an average of 56,649 per day, while a whopping 55.137 million units of merchandise were sold. It is estimated that over 13.7 million customers shopped in Dubai Duty Free’s arrivals and departures stores in 2024.

Online sales topped AED 197 million ($54 million), equating to 2.5 per cent of annual sales.

Sales in departures edged ahead 0.84 per cent year-on-year to AED 7.121 billion (US$1.951 billion) representing 90 per cent of turnover while arrivals sales declined sharply by 12.21 per cent to AED 537 million ($147 million), 6.8 per cent of total annual sales.

Looking ahead, Dubai Duty Free will continue to enhance its retail operation which includes the completion of the last phase of renovations in the arrival shops in the three terminals with construction to be finished early this year.