Dubai Duty Free ushered in a new year this week by celebrating four decades in the industry with a spectacular anniversary sale that saw over Dh54 million in sales within 24 hours. The airport retailer’s milestone 40th anniversary promotion spurred a shopping frenzy amongst local residents and international travelers alike, demonstrating its continued popularity and relevance after all these years.
As one of the top travel destinations in the world, Dubai International Airport sees over 89 million passengers pass through its gates annually. Dubai Duty Free has established itself as a renowned brand synonymous with the city’s reputation for glittering malls and luxury experiences. Its diverse mix of merchandise and prize promotions attract flyers and tourists alike looking to tick off shopping from their Dubai to-do list.
This 40th anniversary campaign, which offered a special 25% discount across all store categories for a single day, was no different in generating buzz. By the time the sale period ended, cash registers had rung up an impressive Dh54.2 million in sales – a 53% increase over the same date last year. Perfumes topped spending at Dh12.4 million, followed by watches at Dh7.5 million. Meanwhile, tickets sold for the airport retailer’s famed Millionaire draw reached Dh6.6 million.
The deep discounts, coupled with excitement around the landmark celebrations, spurred early morning queues and crowded stores throughout the promotional period. Shoppers loaded up on beauty buys, spirits, fashion accessories and more at slashed prices. Online orders through the official website and app also saw a substantial bump, with over Dh7.5 million in additional digital transactions.
Behind the scenes, Duty Free’s distribution warehouse was in full swing fulfilling some 800 pallets of goods. Over 5,815 individual Click & Collect and home delivery orders were picked, packed and shipped out during the sale. With 79,812 in-store transactions processed, it was all hands on deck for Dubai Duty Free’s committed workforce.
Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman and CEO, expressed his gratitude to both customers and employees for their role in achieving such monumental anniversary sales. The engagement around the discounted, limited-time celebration underscored Duty Free’s enduring appeal after four decades as a popular pre- or post-flight shopping destination within Dubai International Airport. Whether for coveted designer items or a jackpot winning lottery ticket, the tax-free emporium continues satisfying travelers’ every need or whim.
Having set a new benchmark with its 40th anniversary feat, Dubai Duty Free appears primed to keep entertaining and enriching the experiences of millions who pass through its terminals for many more years to come. An iconic fixture of Dubai’s business landscape, the success of this shopping bonanza showed that big things are still ahead even after 40 glittering years in the industry.
