Dubai Duty Free registered a 13 per cent rise in sales in the first six months, taking it a step closer to meeting a US$1.8 billion turnover target for the year.
The airport retailer's revenues reached Dh3.2bn in the period, with increases across several categories.
Perfume, liquor and gold remained the best-sellers.
Sales of perfume were up 18 per cent to Dh496 million year to date, while gold transactions rose by 13 per cent to Dh322m.
Sales of tobacco also climbed by 13 per cent to Dh269m, while confectionery increased 15 per cent to Dh258m, accounting for 8 per cent of the retailer's total revenues. Sales of cosmetics and watches also climbed.
Departure sales increased by 13 per cent, compared with the same period last year, and sales in arrivals and public shops rose by 15 per cent and 24 per cent respectively.
"We are pleased that 2013 is shaping up to be such a positive year for Dubai Duty Free as we have seen an increase in consumer spending across all categories, with average spend per departing passenger at $48," said Colm McLoughlin, the executive vice chairman of Dubai Duty Free.
"We are looking forward to an equally busy period in the second half of the year. Plans are very much in place for the opening of retail operation at Al Maktoum International in October 2013 and we are busy working towards the planning of the new retail area with the opening of Concourse D," he added.
gduncan@thenational.ae
ENGLAND SQUAD
Eoin Morgan (captain), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Sam Billings, Jos Buttler, Tom Curran, Alex Hales, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood
Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid
Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Chris%20Jordan%20on%20Sanchit
%3Cp%3EChris%20Jordan%20insists%20Sanchit%20Sharma%20will%20make%20an%20impact%20on%20the%20ILT20%2C%20despite%20him%20starting%20the%20campaign%20on%20Gulf%20Giants'%20bench.%3Cbr%3EThe%20young%20UAE%20seamer%20was%20an%20instant%20success%20for%20the%20side%20last%20season%2C%20and%20remained%20part%20of%20the%20XI%20as%20they%20claimed%20the%20title.%3Cbr%3EHe%20has%20yet%20to%20feature%20this%20term%20as%20the%20Giants%20have%20preferred%20Aayan%20Khan%20and%20Usman%20Khan%20as%20their%20two%20UAE%20players%20so%20far.%3Cbr%3EHowever%2C%20England%20quick%20Jordan%20is%20sure%20his%20young%20colleague%20will%20have%20a%20role%20to%20play%20at%20some%20point.%3Cbr%3E%22Me%20and%20Sanchit%20have%20a%20great%20relationship%20from%20last%20season%2C%22%20Jordan%20said.%3Cbr%3E%22Whenever%20I%20am%20working%20with%20more%20inexperienced%20guys%2C%20I%20take%20pleasure%20in%20sharing%20as%20much%20as%20possible.%3Cbr%3E%22I%20know%20what%20it%20was%20like%20when%20I%20was%20younger%20and%20learning%20off%20senior%20players.%3Cbr%3E%22Last%20season%20Sanchit%20kick-started%20our%20season%20in%20Abu%20Dhabi%20with%20a%20brilliant%20man-of-the-match%20performance.%3Cbr%3E%22Coming%20into%20this%20one%2C%20I%20have%20seen%20a%20lot%20of%20improvement.%20The%20focus%20he%20is%20showing%20will%20only%20stand%20him%20in%20good%20stead.%22%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
