Dubai Duty Free has announced a record-breaking sales figure of Dh7.901 billion for the year 2024, marking a new milestone for the retail giant. A significant boost came in December, which alone achieved sales of Dh821.944 million, a two percent rise compared to the same month in 2023.

December’s strong performance was bolstered by the company’s 41st anniversary celebrations on December 20, offering a 25 percent discount that triggered a shopping spree worth Dh59.993 million in just 24 hours. This followed a successful November, which also saw higher sales than the previous year.

Reflecting on the achievement, Dubai Duty Free’s Managing Director, Ramesh Cidambi, told Khaleej Times that the team worked hard to surpass 2023’s record despite ongoing renovations. He also highlighted the last week of December as particularly strong.

Throughout 2024, Dubai Duty Free recorded over 20.733 million sales transactions, averaging 56,649 daily. More than 13.7 million customers shopped at its stores, purchasing a staggering 55.137 million units of merchandise.

Perfumes led as the top-selling category, generating Dh1.50 billion in sales and accounting for 19 percent of total revenue, a 9.79 percent growth from last year. Beverages, cigarettes and tobacco, gold, and electronics followed as the other top categories, though electronics sales dropped by 13 percent compared to 2023.

Online sales also performed well, contributing Dh197 million or 2.5 percent of total revenue. Departures stores accounted for 90 percent of total sales, reaching Dh7.121 billion, while arrivals stores saw a decline, generating Dh537 million.

The company continued its expansion by hiring more staff, ending the year with 6,030 employees from 54 nationalities. Notably, eight senior managers, including seven UAE Nationals, were added to support its five-year business plan.

Looking ahead, Dubai Duty Free plans to complete the final phase of renovations for its arrival shops in early 2025. Major refurbishments are also set for Concourse B and Concourse A, targeting luxury watches, electronics, perfumes, and fashion boutiques through 2026.

The company remains committed to enhancing its retail experience while maintaining its record-breaking momentum.