São Paulo – The stores at the International Dubai Airport’s Duty Free area, in the United Arab Emirates, posted 5.9 billion dirhams in sales revenues (US$ 1.6 billion) last year, according to information released last Wednesday (2nd) by the management. The amount is 10% higher than in 2011.
In December alone, sales amounted to 619 million dirhams (US$ 169 million), a monthly all-time high. On the 20th of December, on which 25% discounts were offered, revenues reached 76.91 million dirhams (US$ 21 million), according to the Dubai Duty Free.
Perfumes were the top-selling items, followed by beverages, jewellery, tobacco, clothing, appliances, watches, and cosmetics. According to the management, 23.5 million sales took place in 2012, i.e. 64,200 on average per day.
The operation is getting set to grow this week as a new wing opens in the airport’s Terminal 3, used by Emirates Airline. According to the Dubai Duty Free executive vice president, Colm McLoughlin, 1,600 new employees were hired last year, raising the total employee number up to 5,200. With the new wing, the stores will cover a 26,000 square-metre area at the airport.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
