UAE. Dubai Duty Free has celebrated its 36th anniversary in spectacular style by generating US$57.39 million in sales over an action-packed three-day sales promotion.
On the anniversary day itself, 20 December, Dubai Duty Free daily sales rocketed to US$30.59 million – US$10 million more than the retailer generated in its first full year of trading.
Dubai Duty Free was launched on 20 December 1983. That anniversary anchored this month’s shopping extravaganza, which saw shoppers offered a -25% discount on a wide range of merchandise over three days from midnight on 18 December through the anniversary day itself.
The anniversary discount resulted in a remarkable spending spree at DXB (Dubai International) and Al Maktoum International airports with sales on 18 December reaching US$13.65 million and those a day later touching US$13.15 million.
On the anniversary day itself, 20 December, Dubai Duty Free daily sales rocketed to US$30.59 million – US$10 million more than the retailer generated in its first full year of trading.
Cosmetics was the biggest category with sales of US$15.02 million over the three days, followed by perfumes with US$10.29 million and watches with US$9.14 million.
Dubai Duty Free Executive Vice Chairman and CEO Colm McLoughlin, who this year celebrated 50 years in the duty free business (see video below), said: “The anniversary celebrations spread over three days were fantastic and received positive results across all the concourses. I would like to thank everyone – in particular thanks to our customers and our staff who did a great job in serving the high number of passengers.”
During the three-day campaign, Dubai Duty Free’s Distribution Centre issued 2,532 pallets of merchandise and conducted 240 trips from the warehouse to the airport.
The highest number of pallets was issued on 19 December with 931 pallets being delivered in 88 trips.
The total number of picks in the warehouse during this period was 25,637, carrying 923,182 units of merchandise. Levels peaked on 18 December with 418,787 units.
Over the three-day period, Dubai Duty Free’s cash registers recorded 358,523 sales transactions with 190,208 transactions on 20 December alone.
The Dubai Duty Free anniversary promotion is now a highly-anticipated event with many travellers choosing to travel on the days when the 25% discount is offered. The celebratory discount concept was introduced on the retailer’s 20th Anniversary in 2003.
The 36th anniversary also saw a series of celebrations in various locations over the past week led by Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman & CEO; Ramesh Cidambi, Chief Operating Officer; and Salah Tahlak, Executive Vice President-Corporate Services; together with the other members of the executive team.
The activities attracted well-known faces such as Noha Nabil, a Kuwaiti style icon and social media influencer who joined the Dubai Duty Free officials to celebrate in Concourse A. Wimbledon Champion and World No. 4 tennis player Simona Halep joined the Dubai Duty Free group in Concourse D.
The Dubai Duty Free staff also received AED85,000 (US$23,140) in cash prizes via the Staff Surprise draw. In addition, the executive team also awarded Certificates of Appreciation to long-serving employees who have been with the company for 25 years, 30 years and 35 years.
Dubai Duty Free currently employs almost 6,100 staff. Remarkably, of the original 100 staff who joined in December 1983, 25 remain in active service and are referred to as the ‘Pioneers’.
[One man has led Dubai Duty Free throughout those 36 years – Executive Vice Chairman & CEO Colm McLoughlin. Click on the YouTube Icon to view a special tribute to him produced by The Moodie Davitt Report in association with Dubai Duty Free.]
