Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 2014-9-4 — /Travel PR News/ — Abu Dhabi Airports announced today that Abu Dhabi Duty Free has achieved record sales in the first six months of 2014, reaching AED 487.9 million, which represents a rise of 11.5% compared to the first six months of 2013 (AED 437.6 million). The total number of transactions in the period was just over 2 million, 12.8% higher than the first half of 2013.
A number of new retail outlets opened in the first half of 2014, including 2 new multi category Duty Free stores in the newly opened Terminal 3 Bus gate facility & Pier, refurbished UAE Souvenir stores in both Terminals 1 & 3, and the introduction of a new ‘Fragrances of the World’ store in Terminal 1. During this period WHSmith 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 Espressamente. Abu Dhabi Duty Free’s popular Big Ticket opened additional locations around the airport, and during the first 6 months gave away more than AED 18 million in cash and prizes along the way creating 4 x AED Multi-millionaires & 2 x US$ Millionaires! In March 2014, Abu Dhabi International Airport opened its new ‘Fragrances by DFS’ boutique. The new boutique located in Terminal 3 is luxuriously designed over 2,726 square feet, and displays a range of fragrances from around the world, many of which are exclusively available in the Middle East. Visitors to Abu Dhabi are now greeted in our Arrivals Hall with a new Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority Welcome Centre helping create wonderful experiences!
All of these have contributed to the growth in sales, with the top performing categories being Fragrances, Luxury Fashion & Jewelry The main drivers behind this have been the introduction of the new and exclusive fragrance brands, the attractive Spring and Summer luxury fashion collections in many of our boutiques & the glittering diamond jewelry collections available from Pure Gold Jewelers stores.
Abu Dhabi Airports’ Chief Commercial Officer Mohammed Al Bulooki said: “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. Passengers here benefit from a 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 when they are guests in the airport; and with passenger numbers increasing month by month, that requirement becomes more urgent. Fortunately, a carefully planned programme of development is in place to ensure that there is sufficient capacity in place to achieve this. This will continue, with more brands expected to open in Abu Dhabi International Airport and take advantage of its growing status as a world leading global transportation hub.”
During the period, Abu Dhabi Airports formally commenced the tender process for retail and F&B concessions at the Midfield Terminal Building, which is making rapid progress and will have an annual capacity of 30 million when it opens in 2017. Most of the world’s leading brands are expected to submit bids, and they have been encouraged to make their proposals as innovative and spectacular as possible, supporting the company’s ambition to offer passengers an experience that is second to none.
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