Abu Dhabi Duty Free, a division of Abu Dhabi Airports, achieved record sales in the first six months of 2014 at Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) – but they failed to keep pace with traffic.

 

Revenue reached AED 487.9m ($132.7m) , a rise of +11.5% compared to the same period in 2013 (AED 437.6m). However, the double-digit rise was sluggish compared to passenger traffic which increased by +19.4% at AUH in the first half to reach 9.48m.

 

Abu Dhabi Airports says that total transactions in the period were just over two million, up by +12.8% over the first half of 2013.

 

Sales were helped by a number of new retail outlets opening in the first half, including two multi-category duty free stores in the newly-opened Terminal 3 bus gate facility and Pier; refurbished UAE souvenir stores in Terminals 1 and 3; and the introduction of a Fragrances of the World store in T1.

 

During the period WHSmith also opened its second store while T3 added to its F&B offering in the T3 pier with international brands Lavazza, Cinnabon, Flat White, Grab & Fly, Urban Food Market and Illy Espressamente.

 

MILLIONAIRE WINNERS

ADDF’s popular Big Ticket opened more locations at the airport, and during the first six months gave away more than AED 18m in cash and prizes creating four AED multi-millionaires and two US$ millionaires.

 

In March, AUH opened the luxurious 253sq m ‘Fragrances by DFS’ boutique in T3 (left) displaying a range of fragrances, many of which are exclusively available in the Middle East.

Abu Dhabi Airports says that all these elements contributed to the sales growth which was led by fragrances, luxury fashion and jewellery. Driving these categories have been the introduction of new or exclusive fragrance brands, spring/summer collections and diamond jewellery from Pure Gold, the main jewellery concessionaire.

 

MIDFIELD TENDER
During the period, Abu Dhabi Airports formally commenced a game-changing Midfield Terminal tender process for retail and F&B concessions. The terminal (below) will have an annual capacity of 30m when it opens in 2017.

 

ADAC claims that “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”.