Dubai Duty Free first-quarter sales up 20%

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The retailer continues its strong performance from last year with good growth in key categories

Dubai Duty Free (DDF) has reported a 20% increase in first-quarter sales this year, with particularly strong sales of electronics, gold and fragrances. The company achieved sales of Dhs510m ($141m) and said the results placed it on track for another year of record sales.

Electronics sales grew 19% compared with the same three months Iast year, with sales reaching Dhs55m ($15.4m). Meanwhile gold sales grew 20% to Dhs58m ($16.3m) while fragrances grew 27% to Dhs61m ($17m) to become the second best performing category, behind liquor. Refurbishments over the next few months will include the extension of the Perfume Shop in Sheikh Rashid terminal by 100sq m (1,076sq ft), adding 20% to the retail area dedicated to the category

DDF managing director Colm McLoughlin said: "We are pleased to see the upward sales trend continue into 2005. There have been a number of major refurbishments in the retail area at Sheikh Rashid terminal over the past year and these have added to the overall sales growth. We are moving ahead with further refurbishment plans in the second quarter, which will include the opening of a new 600sq m (6,456sq ft) arrivals store that will be double the size of the existing area."