Dubai Duty Free Achieves Record April Sales, Driven by Perfumes, Gold, and Viral Chocolate

Record Growth Despite Increased Passenger Traffic

While passenger traffic at Dubai International Airport surged during this period, Dubai Duty Free reported that sales growth outpaced footfall, indicating that travelers spent more per visit. The April performance is part of a broader trend of record-breaking months, continuing a strong run that began in late 2024.

Top-Selling Categories and Highlights

Perfumes remained the top-selling category, generating Dh128.7 million ($35.3 million), which accounted for 18% of total revenue and saw a 16% year-on-year increase. Other strong performers included liquor (Dh92.5 million), tobacco (Dh74 million, +25%), and gold (Dh71.6 million, +35%).

Notably, confectionery sales jumped by 84% to Dh69.5 million, driven by the ongoing demand for the now-viral “Dubai chocolate,” which alone contributed Dh28.6 million in April, averaging roughly Dh1 million per day.

Fashion, Preloved Luxury, and Promotions

Fashion boutiques in Terminal 3 saw a 12% increase in sales, reversing a recent slump. Additionally, the Reklaim store, which sells preloved luxury items, generated Dh3.5 million in April, contributing to a total of Dh9 million since its launch in December.

The Millennium Millionaire draw remained a hit, with Series 500 tickets selling out in just 7 days, generating Dh21 million ($5.26 million) in total sales.

Top Source Markets

India continued to be Dubai Duty Free’s largest source market, contributing Dh72.1 million in sales. Other strong markets included Russia, Saudi Arabia, China, and the UK.

With this exceptional performance, Dubai Duty Free has once again proven its ability to drive significant sales growth, underscoring the ongoing strength of Dubai as a global travel retail hub.