Dubai Duty Free has recorded its highest-ever half-year performance, with revenue reaching AED4.118 billion (USD1.128 billion) during the first six months of 2025.
This represents a year-on-year rise of 5.34 per cent, surpassing the previous first-half record by AED208.95 million (USD57.24 million).
The uplift was driven by a surge in travel during the Eid holidays and early summer period, with particularly strong sales in April, May, and the first half of June.
Average spend per passenger is also anticipated to exceed June 2024 levels, pending the release of final passenger traffic data.
Ramesh Cidambi, Managing Director of Dubai Duty Free, commented: “We are very pleased with our record performance for the first half of 2025. Whilst we await the final passenger numbers for June 2025, the spend per passenger is likely to be better than last year June.”
Perfumes remained the leading sales category, accounting for 18 per cent of overall revenue, followed by liquor, cigarettes and tobacco, and gold. Confectionery stood out with a 62.7 per cent year-on-year increase, while cosmetics registered a modest growth of 3.36 per cent.
Duty free sales across airport terminals continued to grow, with Terminal 3 seeing a 6.37 per cent rise and Terminal 1 increasing by 5.25 per cent.
All major passenger markets recorded growth in the first half of the year, led by Europe with a 16.89 per cent increase, followed by the Middle East at 8.15 per cent, the Russian region at 4.41 per cent, and the Indian subcontinent at 1.02 per cent.
