Dubai Duty Free reported record October sales of Dhs805.6m ($220.7m), marking its highest-ever sales for the month and the eighth record-breaking month so far in 2025, the retailer said on Sunday.
The figure surpassed the previous October record of Dhs692m ($189m) set in 2023.
October’s sales also ranked as the third-highest monthly result in the retailer’s history, behind the all-time high of Dhs821.4m ($225m) achieved in December 2024.
Sales in October rose 19.31 per cent year-on-year, outpacing passenger traffic growth at Dubai International Airport by at least 10 per cent.
“A big thank you goes to our chairman, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum for his unwavering support to our operation,” said Ramesh Cidambi, MD of Dubai Duty Free. “Thanks also to the team at Dubai Duty Free for their extraordinary hard work and dedication in meeting the needs of an ever-increasing number of passengers.”
Year-to-date sales reached Dhs6.88bn ($1.885bn), up 8.72 per cent, or Dhs552m ($151m), compared with the same period last year.
Perfumes, gold and luxury drive growth at Dubai Duty Free
Perfumes remained the top-selling category in October with Dhs139.9m ($38.3m) in sales, followed by gold at Dhs97.2m ($26.6m), buoyed by Diwali spending and demand for gold as both a luxury and cultural purchase.
Beverages recorded Dhs96.7m ($26.5m), while confectionery hit an all-time high of Dhs78m ($21.4m), led by the “Dubai Chocolate” line which sold 428,000 pieces worth Dhs34m ($9.3m).
Tobacco followed with Dhs74m ($20.3m) in sales.
Luxury fashion boutiques also performed strongly, with sales surging 43.5 per cent over October 2024.
The opening of new Louis Vuitton and Cartier stores in Concourse A in September contributed to the growth.
REKLAIM, the retailer’s pre-owned luxury concept store, achieved Dhs2.2m ($605,000) in sales during October, including a single Audemars Piguet watch priced above Dhs200,000 ($54,794) and two Hermes Birkin handbags each exceeding Dhs120,000 ($32,876).
Strong performance across concourses and passengers from different regions
All airport locations posted double-digit growth, with Concourse A up 27.4 per cent, Concourse B up 21.5 per cent, Concourse C up 21.9 per cent, Concourse D up 11.2 per cent, and Terminal 2 up 13.1 per cent.
Arrivals sales rose 18.3 per cent despite increased competition within the airport.
Sales to passengers bound for Africa, the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, the Far East, and Australasia climbed more than 20 per cent. Russia was up 14.2 per cent, Africa 18.5 per cent, while the Indian subcontinent saw the smallest rise at 6.62 per cent.
As Dubai Duty Free nears its 42nd anniversary on December 20, 2025, the retailer said the year is shaping up to be another record-setter in its four-decade history.
