Dubai Duty Free is on course to meet its target of reaching Dhs6.6 billion ($1.8 billion) of sales in 2013, the retailer's executive vice chairman has said.
In an interview to mark its role in retail event Dubai Summer Surprises, Colm McLaughlin said "the first half of the year is shaping up to be such a positive one for the operation", revealing that firm had managed Dhs2.7 billion ($738 million) of sales by the end of May.
"With the opening of Concourse A in January, which is dedicated to Emirates Airline's A380 fleet, Dubai Duty Free added an additional 8,000 sqm of retail space, which has been extremely well received by passengers," Duty Free exec McLoughlin explained.
"The new facility has enabled us to introduce a number of firsts, including a retail offer in the Emirates First Class lounge which is doing very well," he added.
And he explained that the firm has set itself the goal of ensuring that half of all travellers coming to Dubai for its summer retail offers buy something from the Duty Free's operation.
"Our job is to ensure that we sell to around 50 per cent of all travellers, so with the increase in passengers as the busy summer season picks up a notch, our sales should increase," he said. The firm's current sales are "very encouraging", McLoughlin said, and would "help reach our sales target of $1.8 billion by year-end".
By the time Dubai International Airport opens a new Concourse D - currently in the early stages of development - Duty Free expects its sales to reach $3 billion a year, he said.
© 7Days 2013
