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2008 Milestone Year for Dubai Duty Free as it Crosses $1b Sales Mark

DUBAI - Award winning Dubai Duty Free (DDF) has set a new retailing benchmark, when it announced a record annual sales of Dh 3.950 million ($1.1 billion), representing 23 per cent increase over 2007.

In addition to remarkable sales, 2008 provided DDF with major milestones in terms of growth and expansion. In the summer, the operation opened its purpose-built Head Office and Distribution Centre in Ramoul, which provides 6,000 square metres of office space and 27,000 square metres of warehousing.

December itself was a record month with sales reaching a new monthly high Dh403 million ($111 million) while on the silver jubilee day itself (December 20) all former daily records were broken as sales soared to Dh71 million ($20 million). Meanwhile, on December 17, the milestone figure of $1 billion was crossed.

In 2008, DDF witnessed the doubling of its retail operation with the opening of Emirates Terminal 3. It also recorded a total over 21 million sales transactions, which averages at around 58,000 transactions per day, up 11 per cent on 2007. “This anniversary year has been a remarkable one for Dubai Duty Free. Breaking the $1 billion sales milestone in December has been a great achievement and I congratulate the team at Dubai Duty Free for setting a new retailing benchmark and for firmly establishing its position as one of the top duty free operations in the world,” said Shaikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Department of Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman of Dubai Airports, while commenting on the annual sales.

Colm McLoughlin, Managing Director of Dubai Duty Free said, “Crossing the $1 billion was a great achievement and my thanks goes to all who have helped up achieve this great milestone. Also, on the anniversary day itself, our sales in that one-day were the equivalent of our first full year of operation (1984).

Category wise, perfumes continued to be the highest selling category at Dubai Duty Free in 2008 with annual sales topping Dh560 million ($155 million) which represents 14 per cent of total sales. Liquor retained its No. 2 position with sales of Dhs517 million ($144 million) and Gold was the third highest selling category with sales of Dhs448 million ($125 million).

The opening of Terminal 3 in October 2008, provided an extra 8,000 square metres of retail space for Dubai Duty Free which also operates a further 7,000 square metres across Terminals 1 and 2.

Staffing levels increased in line with the expansion and currently Dubai Duty Free employees total 3,700.

Awards came thick and fast in 2008 and in January the first of several awards, the Global Traveller Awards was presented at a ceremony in New York. In March Dubai Duty Free once again received the DFNI Global Award for ‘Airport Retailer of the Year’, while in May the DFNI Award - Asia Pacific was presented for ‘Middle East Retailer of the Year.’ Also in May, Dubai Duty Free won the Business Traveller Middle East Award for ‘Best Duty Free Shopping.’

williamfaria@khaleejtimes.com