The Dubai Duty Free has announced that it continues to achieve record monthly sales, with unprecedented figures of AED 805.6 million (USD 220.7 million) reported in October, just two months before the conclusion of the 2025 season. The market has sustained its steady growth momentum in eight out of ten months, with October ranking as the top month among the eight that have set records in 2025, surpassing the previous record set in October 2023, which stood at AED 692 million (USD 189 million).
October also marked the third-highest monthly sales in the history of Dubai Duty Free, following the historical peak of AED 821.4 million (USD 225 million) recorded in December 2024.
In a clear indicator of the retail sector’s robust performance, October’s sales increased by more than 10% compared to the growth rate of passenger traffic (official data on the number of passengers for October is expected to be released by Dubai Airports later this month), reflecting a significant increase of 19.31% compared to October 2024.
Ramesh Khadambi, the Executive Vice President of Dubai Duty Free, expressed gratitude to Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Board, for his constant support to the organization, as well as appreciation for the team’s efforts to meet the needs of the growing number of travelers and providing excellent shopping services.
Since the beginning of the year, total sales at Dubai Duty Free have reached AED 6.88 billion (USD 1.885 billion), marking an increase of 8.72%, equivalent to AED 552 million (USD 151 million) compared to the same period last year.
Perfumes continued to lead the list of best-selling items, generating AED 139.9 million (USD 38.3 million) in October, followed by gold jewelry, which reached AED 97.2 million (USD 26.6 million), boosted by the Diwali festival and the enduring appeal of gold as a luxury item with cultural and traditional significance.
Other key products in the top four categories also contributed to October’s sales growth, including confectionery, which achieved its highest sales ever of AED 78 million (USD 21.4 million), backed by the ongoing success of the “Dubai Chocolate” product. This subcategory recorded peak individual sales of AED 34 million (USD 9.3 million), selling 428,000 pieces, equivalent to 71 tons across nine brands during October. Tobacco sales also performed strongly, reaching AED 74 million (USD 20.3 million).
Luxury Brand Stores Drive Sales
The performance of luxury fashion stores, such as Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Dior, Gucci, and Cartier, had a significant impact on October sales, witnessing a remarkable increase of 43.5% compared to October 2024. This growth can be partly attributed to the opening of new Louis Vuitton and Cartier stores in Hall A in September, with the second Louis Vuitton boutique, spanning 280 square meters, quickly becoming a preferred destination for travelers seeking luxury fashion. Meanwhile, the second Cartier boutique, covering 140 square meters, has gained notable traction since its opening in late September, reflecting the strong spending power of international travelers and the enduring allure of premium brands.
The “REKLAIM” store at Dubai Duty Free, specializing in pre-owned luxury goods, reported impressive sales in October, totaling AED 2.2 million (USD 605,000). High-value items included a luxury “Audemars Piguet” watch sold for over AED 200,000 (USD 54,794) in Hall A, along with two “Hermes Birkin” handbags, each valued at over AED 120,000 (USD 32,876), purchased in Halls D and Emirates First Class, respectively, highlighting the strong demand for pre-owned luxury items.
Sales performance was outstanding across all Dubai Duty Free outlets, with Hall A achieving a 27.4% increase, followed by Hall B at 21.5%, Hall C at 21.9%, Hall D at an 11.2% rise, and Terminal 2 showing a 13.1% growth. The arrivals gates also experienced notable growth at 18.3%, despite fierce competition within the airport.
The upward momentum continued across key regions and markets, as sales to travelers heading to Africa, the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, the Asia-Pacific, and various countries increased by over 20%. Sales to Russia rose by 14.2%, while transactions to Africa jumped by 18.5%. Conversely, the Indian subcontinent experienced the lowest growth rate among regions, with sales increasing by 6.62%.
As the free market approaches its 42nd anniversary celebration on December 20, all forecasts suggest that 2025 will be another remarkable year in the ongoing achievements of the duty-free market.