Dubai Duty Free hits record AED805.6 million in October sales

Dubai Duty Free posts record-breaking October sales of AED805.6 million, marking its eighth record month in 2025 and strong year-end momentum

Bianca Qureshi• 11/1/2025• 1126 Views

Dubai Duty Free has crossed another milestone, reporting its highest-ever October sales at AED805.6 million (US$220.7 million). The figure marks the retailer’s eighth record month out of ten this year, underscoring its steady growth as it nears the end of 2025.

The latest numbers surpassed the previous October record of AED692 million (US$189 million) set in 2023. October 2025 also became the third-highest sales month in Dubai Duty Free’s history, following December 2024’s record AED821.4 million (US$225 million).

Sales for the month grew 19.3% year-on-year, outpacing passenger traffic growth by at least 10%, according to preliminary data. Year-to-date, total sales have reached AED6.88 billion (US$1.88 billion) — a robust 8.72% increase compared to 2024.

Perfumes led the performance once again, bringing in AED139.9 million (US$38.3 million). Gold took second place with AED97.2 million (US$26.6 million), boosted by Diwali-driven purchases and the enduring appeal of the metal as both a cultural and luxury item.
Liquor contributed AED96.7 million, while confectionery reached an all-time high of AED78 million, led by the strong demand for “Dubai Chocolate,” which alone sold 428,000 pieces weighing 71 tons in October. Tobacco rounded out the top five with AED74 million in sales.

Luxury fashion boutiques also saw a major surge, with sales up 43.5% over October 2024. The newly opened Louis Vuitton and Cartier boutiques in Concourse A played a key role in the uptick. A few standout purchases included an Audemars Piguet watch worth over AED200,000 and two Hermès Birkin handbags exceeding AED120,000 each.

All airport concourses contributed to the stellar month, led by Concourse A (+27.4%), B (+21.5%), C (+21.9%), and D (+11.2%), while Terminal 2 posted a 13.1% rise. Arrivals also recorded an 18.3% increase, reflecting strong retail traction despite wider competition.

Geographically, growth was widespread — with passengers traveling to Africa, the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, the Far East, and Australasia all recording over 20% increases. The Indian subcontinent showed moderate growth of 6.6%, while Russia saw a rise of 14.2%.

As Dubai Duty Free moves closer to its 42nd anniversary on December 20, the retailer stands on course for another record-breaking year — cementing its position as one of the world’s top travel retail operators.