Abu Dhabi Duty Free (ADDF) has reported an impressive first quarter sales turnover increase of 27.8% to Dhms.90.2m ($24.588m) with strong growth in beauty products (+43.7%); gold (+31.3%) and luxury goods (+63.9%).

Duty free liquor and tobacco sales also maintained a steady growth rate across the first three months of the year with an overall 14.6% growth, as compared with the same period last year. Other year-on-year data released for the first quarter saw impressive gains on gift items, up by 76.7% and leathergoods up by 76.9%.
ADDF says it already has the highest spending passengers in the region, with the average spend per customer standing at $51 in the first quarter. ‘We are extremely pleased to note the excellent growth witnessed by Abu Dhabi Duty Free in the first quarter with February and March standing out in particular – each month performing at growth rates of around 35%,’ said Mohamed Mounib, ADDF Managing Director and the newly-appointed Commercial Director of Abu Dhabi Airports Company.
‘Coupled with seasonal and innovative promotions and activities, we are currently benefiting from growth due to the airport's expansion, as well as from Etihad Airways' rapidly increasing number of destinations and flight frequencies to and from Abu Dhabi,’ added Mounib.
From the beginning of 2008, additional retail space will be added at Abu Dhabi International Airport with the new Terminal 3 development – a dedicated terminal for Etihad Airways, the National Airline of the United Arab Emirates.