Dubai Duty Free (DDF) has announced annual sales of Dhs3.563 billion (US$976m), 40% up year on year.
Reflecting on the year, Colm McLoughlin, executive vice chairman and CEO of Dubai Duty Free said, "Overall, it has been a very good year for the operation despite the challenges of the pandemic and I would like to thank our chairman, His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, for his ongoing support and commitment. I also join His Highness in thanking our great team of staff, our suppliers and of course our customers, for their contribution to our ongoing growth and success."
The operation recorded over nine million sales transactions in 2021, an average of 25,000 sales transactions per day, while over 26 million units of merchandise were sold. The top five selling categories included perfumes, liquor, cigarettes and tobacco, gold and electronics. Sales of perfumes reached Dhs698 million ($191m) and accounted for 19.59% of the total annual sales. Liquor, the second most successful category, recorded sales of Dhs617 million ($169m) and accounted for 17% of total annual sales.
Cigarettes and Tobacco, the third best-selling category, achieved Dhs348 million ($95m) in sales and contributed 10% towards total revenue. Gold came in fourth place with sales amounting to Dhs290 million ($79.5m) and accounted for 8% of total revenue, while electronics came in fifth place with sales of Dhs278 million ($76m) and accounted for 7.8% of total annual sales.
Online sales accounted for 5% of the overall sales tally for 2021 and reached Dhs177 million ($48m).
Meanwhile, sales in Departures reached Dhs2.9 billion ($818m) and represented 84% of total annual sales, while Arrivals sales reached Dhs373 million ($102m), representing 10% of total annual sales.
McLoughlin added, "We have continued to develop our retail offer in all Terminals, including the opening of a Christian Dior boutique in Concourse A and B and a Louis Vuitton shop in Concourse B. We are now looking forward to the opening of a Cartier boutique in Concourse B and the reopening of the Chanel boutique in Concourse A in the first quarter of this year."
