DDF’s newly redesigned Arrivals Shop in Terminal 1 offers a sleek, modern shopping environment.

Dubai Duty Free has unveiled a redesign and refurbishment of its Arrivals shops across Terminals 1, 2, and 3 at Dubai International Airport (DXB), with the latter reaching final completion in May 2025.

The multi-million renovation project began in April 2024 and covered more than 2,171 sqm – that’s the equivalent of 60% of Dubai Duty Free’s Arrivals retail space at DXB.

The move follows the success of the design concept implemented in the Terminal 3 Arrivals shop 4 in 2020, and gives rise to ‘fresh layouts, cutting-edge digital displays and engaging product features’.

“The renovation of our Arrivals shops marks a significant investment. Sales at Arrivals are important to us, and it is necessary that we upscale these retail areas and provide an exceptional experience for inbound passengers,” said Dubai Duty Free Managing Director, Ramesh Cidambi.

In Terminal 1, the newly designed Arrivals shop spans 586 sqm with a focus on creating a seamless, visually appealing shopping environment.

The first phase of the refurbishment was completed in October 2024, with the final phase completed in February 2025.

The revamped Arrivals Shop in Terminal 2 at Dubai International Airport now features an intuitive layout, showcasing premium Liquor & Tobacco and Perfumes & Cosmetics selections.

This updated retail space is said to offer modern fixtures, enhanced digital media displays, and unique features such as the ‘Malt of the Month’ with improved visibility of promotional areas to help ensure a ‘smooth and engaging shopping experience’.

Terminal 2’s Arrivals shop, which stretches 302 sqm, underwent a significant upgrade with a focus on its main categories such as Liquor & Tobacco and Perfumes & Cosmetics.

The refurbishment, completed this month (March 2025), introduces digital screens and an intuitive layout that leads customers through the space.

“The Arrivals shops in Terminals 1 and 2 were very much in need of refurbishment to reflect the increase in passengers using these Terminals in recent years and the changes in their shopping preferences,” explained Cidambi.

“We are very happy with the redesigns and refurbishments and think that our customers will appreciate the modern, engaging, and stylish retail environment on arrival in Dubai.”

Another snapshot of the new T1 Arrivals.

In Terminal 3, the transformation of the Arrivals Shop 3 complements that of Arrivals Shop 4 mentioned above, delivering a premium and open layout for shoppers.

Spanning 1,283 sqm, the retail area now features wide-open doors, with clearly defined zones for wine, beer, malt whiskey and Champagne.

Fun and social media-friendly elements, such as the ‘Beer Garden’, ‘Wine O’Clock’ and ‘Chill Out Zone’, have been designed to appeal to a broad audience and to engage shoppers with interactive experiences and visually striking displays.

“We incorporated a lot of our learnings from T3 Arrivals shop 4 into the redesign concepts; zoning is very clear, some categories have been given more space and attention, such as Champagne and Malt Whiskey, which are now highlighted in a way that resonates with customers,” commented Cidambi.

The updated design also places a strong emphasis on tasting and sampling opportunities. Plus, premium and luxury areas, have been introduced, such as the ‘Salon Prive’.

A snapshot of T3 Arrivals. All of Dubai Duty Free’s Arrivals shops are designed to appeal to a broad audience.

In Terminal 3 Arrivals, DDF’s strategic partnership with Moët Hennessy further elevates the shopping experience with the creation of ‘Cave de Champagne’, which positions Champagne as a key highlight of the offering.

For the first time in Arrivals, Dubai Duty Free has also introduced personalised branded areas within the malt whiskey section, with promotional areas across the store being more prominent to help customers take advantage of special offers.

Additionally, the beauty category has been integrated in ‘a more meaningful way’, says DDF, featuring notable brands that align with the evolving needs customers.

There are self-checkout options at select locations too.

“We’ve focused on creating an environment that is not only visually appealing but also customer centric,” said Cidambi.

“With the evolving landscape of retail, it’s important to remain agile and responsive to our customers’ needs. With the introduction of new brands and retail concept and a striking new store space, we believe that we have taken the Arrivals experience in travel retail to another level.”

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