Dubai Duty Free sales during 2024 are the highest in its history

Yesterday, Dubai Duty Free announced record annual sales of 7.901 billion dirhams during the year 2024, the highest in its history, supported by a noticeable increase in sales in the last month of the year, which witnessed special events and offers, noting that December sales amounted to 821.944 million dirhams, an increase of 2%, compared to the same month in 2023.

December’s financial results were reinforced by the high sales achieved by the market during its celebration of the 41st anniversary of the founding of Dubai Duty Free on December 20, when it launched 25% discount offers, which led to an increase in shopping, and recorded sales worth 59.993 million dirhams within 24 hours.

The market reported in a statement that candy and sweets recorded their best performance in December, after their sales jumped 29.46% compared to December 2023.

The number of sales transactions recorded by Dubai Duty Free during the past year amounted to more than 20,733 million transactions, at a rate of 56,649 thousand transactions per day, during which more than 55,137 million merchandise units were sold, amid estimates that more than 13.7 million customers shopped in Dubai Duty Free stores. In the “Arrivals” and “Departures” gates in 2024.

Perfumes once again maintained its lead on the list of the four best-selling goods in Dubai Duty Free for the year 2024, recording 1.5 billion dirhams, as its sales constituted 19% of the total annual market sales, an increase of 9.79%, compared to 2023, followed by cigarettes and tobacco products in the center. The second, with total sales amounting to 807 million dirhams, which contributed more than 10% of total revenues with an annual growth of 8.27%. Gold sales came in third place, with sales reaching 779 million dirhams, and constituting 10% of total market revenues, slightly ahead of 2023, while electronics came in fourth place, with sales reaching 546 million dirhams, equivalent to 7% of sales. Annual market, down 1%, compared to 2023.

Dubai Duty Free’s online sales also contributed 2.5% of last year’s total sales, recording 197 million dirhams.

Market sales in the “Departures” halls amounted to 7.121 billion dirhams, equivalent to 90% of the total annual sales, recording a growth of 0.84%, compared to the year 2023, while the total sales of the “Arrivals” halls reached 537 million dirhams, equivalent to 6.8% of the year. Total annual sales, recording an annual decrease of 12.21%.

Dubai Duty Free Executive Director, Ramesh Kidambi, said: “November and December sales achieved strong results, especially during the last week of December, as the work team made every effort to record new record results, exceeding the numbers recorded in 2023.”

He added: “Despite the major renovation and restoration work, we succeeded in achieving this achievement and closing the year 2024 with positive results, achieved thanks to the constant support we enjoy from His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Dubai Duty Free.”

---

Appointing 7 citizens to senior management

Dubai Duty Free continued to attract talent to strengthen its work team in 2024, bringing the total number of Dubai Duty Free employees to 6,030 employees from 54 different nationalities.

Dubai Duty Free CEO, Ramesh Kidambi, said: “Over the past year, we were keen to enhance the diversity of our sales and support the senior management team by appointing eight senior managers to important positions, including seven new nationals, who quickly integrated and became an essential part of our five-year business plan.” (2025-2029).”

. The market recorded sales worth 59.9 million dirhams within 24 hours in December.

. 56.6 thousand transactions were recorded by the market daily, during which 55.1 million commodity units were sold.