Image credit: WAM/Website
Dubai Duty Free has reported record-breaking sales for the first half of 2025, with turnover reaching Dhs4.118bn ($1.128bn)—a 5.34 per cent year-on-year increase. The figure exceeds the previous first-half record by Dhs208.95m ($57.24m), reinforcing the airport retailer’s strong post-pandemic recovery.
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The robust performance was driven by a surge in travel during the Eid holidays and the early summer season, which significantly boosted passenger traffic and retail spending across the airport, a WAM report said.
“We are very pleased with our record performance for the first half of 2025,” said Ramesh Cidambi, Managing Director of Dubai Duty Free. “While we await final passenger numbers for June, the spend per passenger is likely to be better than June last year. This performance is a testament to our team’s hard work and the strength of Dubai as a global travel hub.”
Top performing categories and luxury expansion plans
Perfumes, liquor, cigarettes and tobacco, gold, and confectionery retained their positions as the top five product categories.
Perfume sales reached Dhs744.24m ($203.90m), accounting for 18 per cent of total revenue and reflecting a 5 per cent increase over the same period last year. Liquor followed closely with Dhs513.37m ($140.65m) in sales.
Sales of cigarettes and tobacco rose by 12.24 per cent year-on-year, totaling Dhs439.91m ($120.52m), while Gold sales grew by 6.14 per cent to Dhs416.90m ($114.22m), contributing just over 10 per cent to overall revenue.
Confectionery continued its strong upward trend, recording Dhs412.52m ($113.02m) in sales—a remarkable 62.70 per cent increase from the same period in 2024. Cosmetics also performed well, increasing 3.36 per cent to Dhs201.51m ($55.21m) and contributing nearly 5 per cent to total turnover.
Dubai Duty Free is preparing for further growth in the second half of 2025, with the launch of three luxury boutiques planned in Terminal 3’s Concourse A. The upcoming openings include Louis Vuitton, Chanel, and Cartier, marking a significant expansion in the retailer’s high-end offerings.
“We are looking forward to an equally busy second half of the year,” Cidambi said.
Passenger spend and terminal sales on the rise
Passenger spending across Dubai International Airport continued to grow during the first six months of 2025. Terminal 3, the largest and busiest terminal, recorded a 6.37 per cent rise in duty free sales, driven by both increased foot traffic and higher average spend per traveler. Terminal 1 also showed healthy growth, posting a 5.25 per cent sales increase over the same period last year.
Sales performance improved across all major passenger regions. European travelers led the way with a 16.89 per cent year-on-year increase in spending, followed by the Middle East with an 8.15 per cent rise. The Russian region saw a 4.41 per cent gain, while the Indian subcontinent showed steady growth of 1.02 per cent.
These trends highlight Dubai’s continued appeal as a global transit hub and signal strong consumer confidence among international travelers. Dubai Duty Free officials remain optimistic about sustained growth in the second half of the year, particularly during the upcoming peak travel months and traditionally busy final quarter.
