Dubai Duty Free achieved remarkable sales of Dhs724.7 million ($198.5 million) in May, marking the highest monthly total for this year and reflecting a 12.5 percent increase compared to May 2024. This impressive figure makes May the second-highest sales month ever for a non-December period, trailing only November 2024, and it ranks ninth in the all-time monthly sales records.

As of May 31, Dubai Duty Free’s year-to-date revenue surpassed Dhs3.5 billion ($1 billion), showcasing a growth of 6.5 percent compared to the previous year. Despite an average daily passenger traffic of 242,000, the sales growth for May outpaced traffic estimates by 7 to 8 percent, based on the company’s internal projections.

Shoppers at Dubai Duty Free are spending more, with the average spend per departing passenger rising to $46.7, an increase of $3 from last year. The penetration rate of shoppers versus total passengers also increased to 28 percent, up from 26.3 percent in May 2024.

Confectionery sales saw the most significant growth, rising by 81 percent to reach Dhs73.9 million ($20.2 million), largely driven by the popularity of “Dubai chocolate.” Other categories also performed well, with perfumes generating Dhs132.8 million ($36.4 million), a 15 percent increase; tobacco sales totaling Dhs77 million ($21.3 million), with a rise of 14.4 percent; and gold sales reaching Dhs70.7 million ($19.4 million), up by 11.65 percent.

The luxury segment of precious jewellery recorded a sales increase of 31.75 percent, totaling Dhs20.2 million ($5.5 million), indicating continued spending from high-end travelers. Fashion and electronics categories remained steady, with fashion boutique sales growing 4.7 percent to Dhs71.3 million ($19.5 million) and electronics increasing by 5.4 percent to Dhs41.7 million ($11.4 million).

In terms of performance by location, Terminal 2 Departures showed the strongest gain year-on-year at 20.8 percent, while Concourse B (T3) led the major concourses with a growth of 17.5 percent. Passenger sales from Europe led regional spending with a 25.9 percent increase, followed by the Russian region and the Middle East at 14 percent each, the Far East at 5.2 percent, and the Indian subcontinent at 4 percent, despite recent travel disruptions.

Colm McLoughlin, the Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of Dubai Duty Free, attributed this growth to strong staff performance and broad-based gains across categories, noting, “These positive results are a direct reflection of the commitment and excellence shown by our entire team.”

With the year still half complete and momentum building, Dubai Duty Free is on track to make 2025 one of its most profitable years yet.