DDF sales surpass Dhs638m in July
Dhaka: Dubai Duty Free (DDF) recorded a landmark month in July, achieving sales of AED638.8 million (US$175 million), the highest ever for July and placing it ninth in the list of top 10 months in the operator’s history.
Year-to-date sales hit AED4.734 billion (US$1.30 billion), reflecting a 5.86pc increase over the same period in 2024.
This new record surpasses July 2023’s AED602.8 million and is AED56.5 million (US$15.48 million) higher than July 2024’s AED582.26 million. Impressively, DDF has seen record-breaking sales in five of the first seven months of 2025.
The growth is especially significant considering Dubai International Airport (DXB) posted only a 2.3pc rise in passenger traffic from January to June, suggesting increased customer spending and higher conversion rates at DDF stores.
Ramesh Cidambi, Managing Director of Dubai Duty Free, praised the performance, saying: “Achieving nearly 10pc sales growth in a month of flat passenger traffic shows the strength of our retail offer and the dedication of our team.”
Perfumes, Liquor, Gold, Tobacco, and Confectionery remained the top-selling categories in July. Perfume sales rose 10.3pc, Gold by 15.5pc, and Confectionery posted a massive 57pc increase year-on-year.
Watches and Precious Jewellery also performed strongly, rising by 18.4pc and 16.8pc, respectively.
Luxury remained a key driver of growth, with DDF’s CA and CB Fashion Boutiques—featuring Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and Cartier—seeing an 11.36% year-on-year increase in July.
Cidambi noted that DDF’s luxury business is “bucking global trends” amid challenges in the high-end retail sector.
Notably, REKLAIM, DDF’s pre-loved luxury boutique launched in December 2024, continues to gain momentum.
The concept, which sells authenticated second-hand luxury watches and handbags, brought in AED14.3 million (US$3.9 million) in sales so far, with AED1.6 million (US$445,000) coming in July alone. Rolex remains the top performer, with 176 units sold since launch and 16 sold in July.
Despite intensified competition from domestic retailers and global economic uncertainty, DDF’s focus on innovation, experience, and premium branding has helped sustain growth.
Cidambi credited the success to the team’s hard work and ongoing support from DDF Chairman H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, saying, “We’ve improved both penetration and spend levels while staying competitive in a dynamic market.”
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