Dubai Duty Free posts $1.29bn sales so far in 2012

Dubai Duty Free said on Sunday it is looking to achieve double digit sales growth for the year after sales up to the end of October reached AED4.71bn ($1.29bn).

This represented an 11 percent increase over the same period last year, putting the operation on track for year-end sales of an estimated AED6bn.

The perfumes category, which accounts for 15 percent of total sales at Dubai Duty Free, retained the number 1 spot as sales rose to AED727m in the ten-month period.

Dubai Duty Free said sales at Terminal 1 recorded a nine percent increase, while Terminal 2 sales rose by 16 percent and Terminal 3, which is dedicated to Emirates Airline, saw sales grow by 12 percent.

Colm McLoughlin, executive vice chairman of Dubai Duty Free said: "2012 is shaping up to be a fantastic year and I am pleased that our sale per head, which is around $49, and our penetration level of close to 50 percent, continues to be so strong.

"We are looking forward to a busy few weeks ahead and closing the year with record sales."

Notable increases were seen in confectionery which rose by 18 percent to AED377m while electronics showed an 11 percent increase to AED367m.

Subcontinent passengers made up the biggest group of spenders, accounting for 24 percent of total sales at Dubai Duty Free, followed by Far Eastern passengers, primarily Chinese.

Despite the economic gloom in Europe, European passengers came in third place, accounting for 16.4 percent of sales.