Abu Dhabi Duty Free achieves record sales

Revenue nears Dh500m in the first six months as more outlets open at the airport

Abu Dhabi Duty Free has achieved record sales in the first six months this year, reaching Dh487.9 million, which represents a rise of 11.5 per cent compared to the first six months of the last year which was Dh437.6 million, Abu Dhabi Airports said in a statement yesterday.

The airport body said that a number of new retail outlets opened in the first half of 2014, including two multi- category duty free stores in the newly opened Terminal 3 Bus gate facility & Pier at Abu Dhabi International Airport, refurbished UAE Souvenir stores in both Terminals 1 and 3, and the introduction of a new ‘ Fragrances of the World’ store in Terminal 1. WHS mith also opened their second store at Abu Dhabi International Airport. Terminal 3 also added to its extensive F& B offerings in its T3 pier with international brands such as Lavatazza, Cinnabon, Flat White, Grab & Fly and Urban Food Market, illy Espressament, the airport body stated.

The airport retailer’s Big Thicket opened additional locations around the airport, and during the first sixmonths gave away more than Dh18 million in cash and prizes along the way creating four Dirham Multimillionaires and two Dollar Millionaires, according to the statement.

“The continuing improvements and additions of new retail outlets at Abu Dhabi International Airport are clearly making their mark on the company’s commercial revenues,” stated Mohammad Al Bulooki, Abu Dhabi Airports’ Chief Commercial Officer. “Passengers here benefit froma wide array of shopping, food & beverages, and entertainment services that are available. It is very important that they are given the widest possible choice of activity.”