Prime Highlight
- Dubai Duty Free reported its strongest financial performance ever, with annual sales of $2.378 billion, up 9.85% from 2024.
- December set a new record with $252.81 million in sales, boosted by a 42nd anniversary promotion generating $19 million in 24 hours.
Key Facts
- Perfumes led sales at $438.67 million (18.45% of total), followed by liquor, gold, tobacco, and confectionery.
- The retailer processed over 21 million transactions, with online sales reaching $63.03 million (2.65% of revenue).
Background
Dubai Duty Free has reported its strongest financial performance in history, recording annual sales of $2.378 billion in 2025, a rise of 9.85% over the previous year.
The retailer said the results were driven by strong monthly momentum, with ten out of twelve months setting new records. December capped the year with sales of $252.81 million, the highest monthly figure in Dubai Duty Free’s 42-year history. The surge followed the company’s 42nd anniversary promotion on December 20, when a 25% discount offer generated $19 million in sales in just 24 hours.
Managing Director Ramesh Cidambi said the performance reflected the dedication of the team and strong support from brand partners. He added that sales growth exceeded passenger traffic by around 5%, showing the success of efforts to improve customer spending and conversion.
Perfumes remained the largest category, bringing in $438.67 million and accounting for 18.45% of total sales. Liquor followed with $290.61 million, while gold recorded $245.60 million. Tobacco and confectionery completed the top five categories. Dubai chocolate played a key role, with 719 tonnes sold across 13 brands.
Online sales reached $63.03 million, forming 2.65% of total revenue. The retailer processed more than 21 million transactions during the year, averaging over 58,000 sales each day.
Departure sales accounted for 90.6% of total revenue, while arrivals contributed 6.35%. Europe emerged as the strongest growth region for the full year, followed by Africa and the Americas.
The year also saw the opening of new luxury boutiques and concept stores, including Louis Vuitton, Cartier and Les Caves de Champagne. Dubai Duty Free said exclusive products and special launches made up about 12% of major category sales, reinforcing its position as a leader in travel retail.
