Dubai Duty Free has announced a strong performance for its half-year sales, reaching 4.118 billion dirhams (approximately 1.128 billion USD) in the first six months of 2025. This marks a year-on-year increase of 5.34%, surpassing the previous year’s sales record by 208.95 million dirhams (57.24 million USD).
These positive results follow notable sales growth during April and May, as well as the early part of June, which were boosted by a significant rise in traveler numbers coinciding with the Eid al-Fitr holiday and the start of the early summer travel season.
Top-selling Items
Fragrances, tobacco products, gold, and confectionery topped the list of the four highest-selling categories in the first half of the year. Fragrance sales amounted to 744.24 million dirhams (203.90 million USD), making up 18% of the total market revenue, with a growth of 5% compared to the same period last year. Tobacco products followed in second place, seeing a remarkable annual growth of 12.24% with sales of 439.91 million dirhams (120.52 million USD). Jewelry sales recorded 416.90 million dirhams (114.22 million USD), contributing 10.12% to total revenue with a 6.14% increase year-on-year. Confectionery and sweets came in fourth place, continuing their impressive growth with sales reaching 412.52 million dirhams (113.02 million USD), reflecting a 62.70% rise compared to the previous year, contributing 10% to total revenue. Additionally, cosmetic sales increased by a noteworthy 3.36%, amounting to 201.51 million dirhams (55.21 million USD), which constituted 4.89% of total revenue.
Traveler Spending Trends
Spending trends among travelers showed a significant uptick across all terminals at Dubai International Airport. Sales at Terminal 3 grew by 6.37% in the first half of the year, while Terminal 1 experienced a 5.25% increase. Key markets for travelers also reported positive sales results during this period, with Europe leading the increase at 16.89%, followed by the Middle East with an 8.15% rise. The Russian sector recorded growth of 4.41%, with the Indian subcontinent seeing an increase of 1.02%. These figures reflect the ongoing recovery in travel across various global destinations.
Ramesh Kideam, the CEO of Dubai Duty Free, expressed satisfaction with the record performance achieved in the first half of 2025. As they await final traveler numbers for June 2025, he anticipates that average spending per traveler will be higher than last June. He attributed this achievement to the dedicated efforts of the team and their focus on sustainable growth, reaffirming Dubai’s position as a leading global travel hub. The duty-free shop maintains a positive outlook for the second half of the year, with preparations underway for a busy summer season and an active final quarter often characterized by high activity.
Kideam added that they are optimistic about achieving similar record results in the latter half of the year, supported by ongoing preparations for the opening of three more luxury stores in Terminal 3, Concourse A, which will feature prestigious brands like Louis Vuitton, Chanel, and Cartier, enhancing the luxury shopping experience at Dubai Duty Free.
Dubai Duty Free is committed to advancing its business following the successful renovation of three stores in the Arrivals halls during the first half of the year, a clear indication of their ongoing commitment to providing high-end shopping services for travelers.