Dubai Duty Free starts 2026 with a bang as best-ever January sales soar to US$235 million : Moodie Davitt Report

UAE. Dubai Duty Free has picked up in 2026 where it left off in 2025, posting its strongest January performance on record by generating AED858.21 million (US$235 million) in sales, up +18.53% year-on-year.

January 2026 ranks as the travel retailer’s third-highest sales month ever, surpassed only by December 2025’s AED922.77 million (US$252.81 million) and November 2025’s AED876.56 million (US$240.16 million).

January sales peaked on the 31^st, when revenues reached AED35.6 million (US$9.76 million).

Sales growth continued to outperform passenger traffic at Dubai International Airport (the final passenger numbers for January will only be released by Dubai Airports later this month but are likely to be around +5% year-on-year). Dubai Duty Free estimates the outperformance over passenger growth at 13.5 percentage points.

“This is the best outperformance ever,” Dubai Duty Free Managing Director Ramesh Cidambi told The Moodie Davitt Report.

In a media statement, Cidambi said: “We are extremely pleased to begin 2026 with our strongest January performance ever, following a record-breaking 2025. What is particularly encouraging is that sales growth has significantly outperformed passenger growth, demonstrating higher spend per passenger, strong demand across key categories and growth in all major geographical regions.

**Dubai Duty Free generated sales of AED65million (US$17.74 million) across the key electronics/consumer technology category, up +36.61% over January 2025**

“I want to thank our Dubai Duty Free team for their hard work and commitment and for maintaining the strong momentum from last year in the month of January,” added Cidambi.

Dubai Duty Free balances soft China market

One of the most impressive aspects of Dubai Duty Free’s stellar January performance is that it came in the face of a soft Chinese spend – a negative that will resonate with travel retailers all over the globe.

What Dubai Duty Free refers to as its Far East business (up +10.5% in terms of sales to passengers bound for the region) embraces the whole of Asia Pacific, including China. But the historically key Chinese spend has slipped considerably from the halcyon days of pre-pandemic 2019.

Dubai Duty Free Managing Director Ramesh Cidambi told The Moodie Davitt Report, “China was just under +1% growth over last year in January, so almost flat. China is 50.35% of the total Far East business for us and probably half of the 2019 level. China is now 5.78% of our total business and the Far East 11.5%. The Far East grew +10.5% in January but China underperformed.

“For full year 2025, China was down AED583 million (US$158.7 million) versus 2019, whereas 2024 vs 2025 it was down -3.6% only but on a much shrunken base compared to 2019.”

Gold glitters, precious jewellery shines, fashion flourishes and electronics spark

Several categories delivered exceptional growth, led by gold which recorded a +45.74% increase year-on-year, generating sales of AED104 million (US$28.55 million). Fashion posted a similarly striking +36.68% gain, contributing nearly AED82 million (US$22.53 million).

**Luxury fashion and accessories continued their fine 2025 performance in January. Pictured is the Cartier boutique in Concourse A.**

Electronics/consumer technology grew +36.61% to AED65million (US$17.74 million) while precious jewellery was the star of the show, with sales rocketing +69.51% year-on-year to AED28 million (US$7.63 million).

Other categories to post solid gains included perfumes – traditionally the retailer’s top category – up +13.61% to AED147 million (US$40.29 million) while confectionery rose +15.35% to AED80.69 million (US$22.11 million).

Cosmetics increased +7.67% over the same period last year to AED40 million (US$10.97 million). Watch sales spiked an impressive +30.94% to AED33 million (US$9.10 million) and Dubai Duty Free’s wide-ranging delicatessen offer grew +8.36% to AED27.77 million (US$7.61 million).

Number crunching: Dynamic Dubai Chocolate sub-category continues to surge

Dubai Chocolate reached AED36 million (US$10 million) by value and 83 tonnes by volume, huge increases of +50% and +98%, respectively, year-on-year.

Dubai Duty Free’s fashion boutiques performed “exceptionally well” with sales in Concourse A and B up +56% year-on-year. The two locations saw record average daily sales of AED3.4 million (US$931,500) and an all-time high average transaction value of AED8,820 (US$2,416).

Russian routes lead sales gains

Region wise, sales to passengers bound for Russia and other European destinations led sales growth with increases of +36% and +35% respectively. Next up was Africa, up +29%, the Americas +22.5%, the Indian-subcontinent +11%, Far East (Asia Pacific) +10.5% and the Middle East +5.3%.

With record January sales, strong category growth and increased passenger spend, Dubai Duty Free said it has set a positive tone for the year and is confident of maintaining this momentum throughout 2026. ✈