Dubai Duty Free sales reach $880m in 2007

Andrew Pentol

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The airport retailer noted a sales increase of 24% over the previous year

Dubai Duty Free (DDF) has announced a 24% increase in sales in 2007 to Dh3.175bn ($880m).

The top five categories of fragrances, liquor, gold, electronics, cigarettes and tobacco accounted for 55% of total sales. Fragrances was the highest-selling category with annual sales of Dh439m ($122m) followed by liquor with sales of Dh415m ($115m). Gold achieved sales of Dh350m ($97m), electronics boasted sales figures of Dh279m ($77m) and cigarettes and tobacco recorded annual sales of Dh249m ($69m). The operation recorded an average of 52,000 sales transactions per day, an increase of 18% compared to 2006.

DDF managing director Colm McLoughlin said: “We can look back on 2007 as a great year in which the operation went from strength to strength and sales soared to a new high. Such success is the result of a great deal of hard work by the entire DDF team. Looking ahead there are great opportunities with the expansion of the retail operation and the opening of the new warehouse and head office. We are forecasting sales of $1bn in 2008 so there is a lot to look forward to in the coming year.”