Dubai Duty Free’s December sales rise +33% as year-end hits all-time US$712 million high – 02/01/07

UAE. Dubai Duty Free has unveiled full details of its all-time annual sales high of US$712 million set in 2006.

As revealed by The Moodie Report on 1 January, the UAE retailer posted a +20.7% increase in sales over its previous annual high set a year earlier. "

Category wise, fragrances ended the year in the number one spot as sales reached US$96 million, a +28% increase over 2005. Liquor followed in second place and showed a +20% lift year-on-year. Gold was the third-highest selling category with a +19% rise.

Notable gains were also seen in cosmetics, up +40%, while the Gifts from Dubai shop posted a +32% increase.

In quantity terms, Dubai Duty Free sold close to 53 million units of merchandise in 2006, which involved the movement of around 228 pallets of goods per day.

Commenting on the year-end figures, H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Department of Civil Aviation, Dubai said: “It has been another highly successful year for Dubai Duty Free and the turnover reflects the operation’s determination to retain its position as one of the top three duty free operations in the world. I congratulate the team at Dubai Duty Free on its record-breaking achievements.”

While sales throughout the year showed a consistent increase, the last quarter saw revenues rise particularly sharply. December brought 2006 to a flourishing finale as monthly sales reached US$80 million, an impressive +33% higher than the former record month set in December 2005. On Dubai Duty Free’s 23rd Anniversary day (20 December) a -23% discount offer saw sales soar to an unprecedented US$8.2 million in the 24-hour period.

Dubai Duty Free Managing Director Colm McLoughlin said: “2006 has been a fantastic year for the operation, which on average handled over 44,000 sales transactions per day or 16 million transactions in the year. These figures are an indication of the hard work undertaken by our team here at Dubai Duty Free. I would like to take this opportunity to thank H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum for his ongoing support and join H.H. in thanking all of our staff for helping us achieve a new annual record.”