Dubai Duty Free sales stay flat in 2024

Dubai Duty Free achieved sales of AED7.9 billion ($2.16 billion) in 2024, almost exactly equalling its 2023 performance.

December set an all-time monthly record, however, with sales of AED821.94 million, a 2 percent year-on-year increase and the highest in the retailer’s history, the UAE state-run Wam news agency reported.

The December performance was fuelled by Dubai Duty Free’s 41st anniversary celebrations on December 20, which included a 25 percent discount, resulting in a AED60 million shopping spree within 24 hours.

Confectionery emerged as the best-performing category in December, with sales surging around 30 percent year on year.

The retailer recorded more than 20.7 million sales transactions during the year, an average of 56,649 per day, while 55 million units of merchandise were sold. More than 13.7 million customers shopped in the arrivals and departures stores during the year.

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Online sales topped AED197 million, accounting for 2.5 percent of annual sales.

Sales in departures grew less than one percent year on year to AED7.121 billion, representing 90 percent of turnover. However, annual sales in arrivals fell by 12.21 percent to AED537 million, making up 6.8 percent of total annual sales.

Dubai Duty Free plans to enhance its retail operation by completing the final phase of renovations in the arrival shops across the three terminals at the airport, with construction due to be finished early this year.