Dubai Duty Free Reports Record AED 805.6 Million In October Sales Amid Strong Retail Performance

Dubai Duty Free has set a new benchmark with its October sales reaching AED805.6 million (US$220.7 million), marking the highest for the month and the third-highest in its history. This achievement highlights a robust growth trend, with October being one of eight record-breaking months in 2025. The sales surpassed the previous October record of AED692 million (US$189 million) set in 2023.

Year-to-date figures reveal sales have climbed to AED6.88 billion (US$1.885 billion), reflecting an 8.72 percent increase from last year. Perfumes remained the top-selling category, generating AED139.9 million (US$38.3 million) in October alone. Gold followed closely, driven by Diwali and its cultural significance, bringing in AED97.2 million (US$26.6 million).

The impressive sales growth in October outpaced passenger traffic by at least 10 percent, achieving a remarkable 19.31 percent increase over October 2024 figures. Final passenger numbers will be released later this month by Dubai Airport, but the current data already indicates strong retail performance.

Fashion boutiques like Louis Vuitton and Cartier saw significant sales increases, up 43.5 percent compared to October 2024. This surge is partly due to new boutique openings in Concourse A in September, attracting travellers seeking luxury fashion items.

Liquor sales reached AED96.7 million (US$26.5 million), while Confectionery hit a record high of AED78 million (US$21.4 million). The "Dubai Chocolate" subcategory alone sold 428,000 pieces, totalling AED34 million (US$9.3 million). Tobacco also performed well with sales of AED74 million (US$20.3 million).

Luxury fashion transactions were notable, including AED2.2 million (US$605,000) from REKLAIM's pre-owned luxury store, featuring an Audemars Piguet watch priced over AED200,000 (US$54,794) and two Hermes Birkin handbags each costing more than Dhs120,000 (US$32,876).

Regional Sales Growth

Sales across various regions showed strong growth: Africa increased by 18.5 percent; Russia saw a rise of 14.2 percent; and the Indian subcontinent experienced a smaller growth of 6.62 percent compared to other regions.

All airport locations reported positive results: Concourse A rose by 27.4 percent; Concourse B by 21.5 percent; Concourse C by 21.9 percent; Concourse D by 11.2 percent; and Terminal 2 by 13.1 percent.

"A big thank you goes to our Chairman, H.H Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum for his unwavering support to our operation," said Ramesh Cidambi, Managing Director of Dubai Duty Free.

The consistent performance across categories and regions underscores Dubai Duty Free's ability to meet diverse customer needs while capitalising on seasonal trends and luxury brand appeal.

With inputs from WAM