UAE. Dubai Duty Free, the world’s largest single airport retailer, has maintained its recent remarkable sales momentum, generating record July sales of AED638.8 million (US$175 million).
That’s up +9.7% year-on-year and almost +6% higher than the previous July high of AED602.8 million (US$165 million) set in 2023.
The performance places July 2025 in ninth place among the top ten months in Dubai Duty Free’s history. Remarkably, given the currently troubled global travel retail environment, the company has posted sales records in five months out of seven so far this year.
The July results lifted year-to-date sales to AED4.734 billion (US$1.30 billion), up +5.86% year-on-year, an especially notable performance given that passenger growth for the same period is expected to be less than +3% (Dubai International Airport announced +2.3% first-half passenger growth).
“We are delighted to report another strong sales month in what is already proving to be an exceptional year,” said Dubai Duty Free Managing Director Ramesh Cidambi.
Dubai Chocolate dazzles
“This outstanding performance reflects the resilience of our retail operation and the continued demand for world-class shopping experiences. Achieving nearly +10% sales growth in a month when we estimate passenger traffic remained relatively flat is a testament to our team’s dedication and product offering.”
The top five product categories in July were perfumes, liquor, gold, tobacco and confectionery. Perfume sales rose +10.3% year-on-year, while liquor was up +1.7%, tobacco +2.2%, gold +15.5% and confectionery – spurred by the sustained Dubai Chocolate dynamic – ahead by what Dubai Duty Free called an “incredible” +57%.
The Moodie Davitt Report Founder & Chairman Martin Moodie recently toured the new-look Dubai Duty Free arrivals stores with Managing Director Ramesh Cidambi, filming them courtesy of our Moodie Davitt STUDIO* division and discovering more about the transformational impact of the project. Click on the YouTube icons to watch.
Other notable performers were watches with a sales increase of +18.4% and precious jewellery ahead +16.8%.
Luxury allure
July’s sales surge was fuelled in part by a growing appetite for some of the world’s most renowned luxury brands.
Dubai Duty Free’s CA and CB Fashion Boutiques, home to a cluster of internationally famous luxury labels, delivered exceptional results in July, with sales surging +11.36% over the same period last year.
Flagship brands Chanel, Louis Vuitton and Cartier were standout performers, reflecting sustained demand for high-end fashion and accessories at Dubai International Airport.
“Given the recent media reports outlining the difficulties facing global luxury brands, we are happy to buck that trend in our luxury boutiques, where we are seeing continued demand for select brands,” added Cidambi.
Pre-loved popularity
Dubai Duty Free noted the encouraging performance of its pre-loved luxury boutique, REKLAIM, launched in December 2024.
Located in Concourse A, including in the Emirates First Class Lounge, and concourses B and D, REKLAIM offers a curated selection of authenticated pre-owned watches and handbags from top-tier luxury brands.
In just over seven months REKLAIM has generated more than AED14.3 million (US$3.9 million) in sales, of which AED1.6 million (US$445,000) was generated in July alone, “a clear testament to its growing appeal among luxury-focused shoppers”, Dubai Duty Free said.
The stand-out performer was Rolex watches, with a total of 176 sold since the launch of REKLAIM, with 16 sold in July alone.
“The demand for pre-loved luxury products is growing and with the REKLAIM offer, we can provide pristine sought-after items that may be difficult to find in the market,” added Cidambi. “We are looking at expanding the REKLAIM offer throughout the operation in response to the growing demand.”
Dubai Duty Free’s success comes against a backdrop of growing competition within the airport retail space as well as from external sources, including domestic retailers. With continued investment in product innovation, digital engagement and experiential retail, the company said it is well-positioned to close out 2025 as one of the strongest years in its 40+ year history.
“This outstanding achievement is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team and the unwavering support from our Chairman H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum. We have succeeded in enhancing penetration and spend levels while maintaining business focus, despite a highly competitive and uncertain environment,” added Cidambi. ✈
*About Moodie Davitt STUDIOMoodie Davitt STUDIO is a division of The Moodie Davitt Report, one of the world’s most successful multi-media business-to-business publishers, specialised in providing information of the highest quality to the global aviation and travel retail sectors. Moodie Davitt STUDIO productions feature a wide variety of formats and subject matter, from 60 to 90-second shorts designed for multiple social media channels to longer documentaries and series to be shown across our and clients’ platforms. The films are fronted by The Moodie Davitt Report Co-Owners Martin Moodie and Dermot Davitt, while production is led by Videographer, Editor and Director Alexander Roux, based in Hainan, China. *For partnership enquiries please reach out to: Martin Moodie: Martin@MoodieDavittReport.com (Content) Irene Revilla: Irene@MoodieDavittReport.com (Sales) |
