UAE. Dubai Duty Free today revealed annual sales for 2021 of AED3.563 billion (US$976 million), a leap of +40% year-on-year. The retailer recorded over 9 million transactions, an average of 25,000 per day, with over 26 million merchandise units sold in the year.
Dubai Duty Free Executive Vice Chairman & CEO Colm McLoughlin said: “Overall, it has been a very good year for the operation despite the challenges of the pandemic. I would like to thank our Chairman, H.H. 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 top five selling categories for the year included perfumes followed by liquor (wines & spirits), cigarettes & tobacco, gold and electronics. Sales of perfumes reached AED698 million (US$191 million) or 19.59% of total annual sales. Wines & spirits in second place recorded sales of AED617 million (US$169 million) or 17% of sales.
Cigarettes & tobacco, the third best-selling category, had AED348 million (US$95 million) in sales and contributed 10% towards total revenue. Gold was ranked fourth with sales amounting to AED290 million (US$79.5 million) or 8% of total revenue while electronics posted sales of AED278 million (US$76 million) or 7.8% of sales. Online sales of AED177 million (US$48 million) accounted for 5% of the business.
Departures sales across the operation reached AED2.9 billion (US$818 million) and represented 84% of total sales, while arrivals sales reached AED373 million (US$102 million), represented 10% of business.
McLoughlin also commented on the retailer’s key projects that were completed in 2021 and its plans for the year ahead. He said: “We have continued to develop our retail offer in all the terminals and that included 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.”
Looking ahead, Dubai Duty Free will maintain its strong events and promotional calendar, which includes the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships to be held from 14-26 February at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium.
In recent days, Dubai Duty Free issued a news release reflecting on some of the milestone moments of the past 12 months. Click here for its review of the year.
