DDF sales up 10% in 1Q 2014

Dubai Duty Free (DDF) recorded AED1.75 billion in sales during 1Q 2014, marking a 10% increase over the corresponding period last year. Sales were up across all three terminals, with a 23% rise in Terminal 2 and 11% growth in Terminal 3, accounting for 62% of DDF’s total turnover.

Perfume, beverages and gold were the top-selling categories during the first quarter, followed by cosmetics, handbags and small leather products and souvenirs. Sales of perfume grew by 16% to AED286.4 million, while sales of cosmetics reached AED141.3 million, up 30%; handbags and small leather products touched AED25 million, up 62%; and souvenirs reached AED33 million, up 9%.

“We have had a very good start to the year and are very much on track for our sales forecast of AED7 billion,” says DDF executive vice chairman Colm McLoughlin, adding that the expansion and upgrade of Terminal 2 late last year boosted sales, and the project’s final phase, which includes a new shop, will boost sales further. DDF’s sales touched AED6.65 billion last year, representing an 11.4% growth over 2012.