Dubai Duty Free has reported sales totaling $1.94 billion as of the end of November, positioning itself to surpass its annual target of over $2 billion.
For November, the airport retailer achieved sales of $205.67 million, marking it as the fifth-highest sales month in its history, WAM reported. Previous records were established during its anniversary month in December, a period known for high sales figures.
November 30 set a new daily sales record for the year at $8.46 million, while November 29 ranked as the third-highest day of the year with sales reaching $8.24 million.
Ongoing refurbishment projects
Reflecting on this impressive performance, Ramesh Cidambi, managing director of Dubai Duty Free, expressed his satisfaction with the sales figures in November, particularly given the challenging trading environment. He noted that sales in boutiques for major fashion brands were lower compared to the previous year, and there were ongoing refurbishment projects in the Arrivals shops across all three terminals. He mentioned that there had been a significant focus on boosting sales in recent months and felt encouraged by the substantial efforts made to bridge the gap between the budgeted spend per passenger and the actual spend.
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Optimism for the holiday season
Cidambi also conveyed optimism for December, expecting another successful month as the holiday season approaches, and he anticipated concluding the year with outstanding results.
In terms of product performance, perfume sales reached $362 million, reflecting a 10 percent increase compared to 2023. Gold sales also rose by 2 percent year-on-year, totaling $194.57 million, while electronics secured fifth place with sales of $134 million.