The striking Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi.

Falic Group has entered into an agreement to acquire 100% of DFS’s luxury travel retail business at Zayed International Airport (AUH) in Abu Dhabi.

The footprint comprises around 30 stores and the transaction is expected to close in the third quarter, subject to customary closing conditions.

“The acquisition of the luxury travel retail concessions at Abu Dhabi Airport marks a key milestone in our Middle East growth strategy and further expands our airport footprint and luxury retail presence,” said Leon Falic, President of Falic Group, which operates under the Duty Free Americas (DFA) brand.

“We are delighted to partner with one of the most prestigious airports globally and we warmly welcome the airport, brands, and customer partners to our DFA family as we begin this new chapter together.

“Duty Free Americas and Abu Dhabi Airports share an ambitious vision to further develop and elevate the luxury travel retail offering together.

“Plans include the incorporation of new flagship brands and expanded footprints for existing top-performers, as well as innovative open-air retail areas which will promote a more flexible passenger experience and drive conversion.”

The luxury travel retail concessions being transferred to Duty Free Americas are said to include ‘some of the most coveted brands in luxury and contemporary fashion, watches and jewellery, and sunglasses’, providing DFA with an immediate, scaled presence in one of the Middle East’s fastest-growing travel retail markets.

The luxury concessions being acquired by DFA span fashion, watches and jewellery and sunglasses.

Zayed International Airport welcomed more than 32 million passengers in 2025 and features 163 retail, leisure, dining and hospitality outlets across 36,000 sqm of commercial space.

“This agreement marks a deliberate step forward in enhancing the award-winning commercial ecosystem at Zayed International Airport,” said Carsten Nørland, Chief Commercial Officer of Abu Dhabi Airports.

“DFA brings global travel retail expertise that will help us deliver a more dynamic and value-driven retail environment, aligned with the evolving expectations of our passengers and our long-term commercial ambitions.”

The move builds on DFA’s expanding MEA footprint, following its recent win at Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) International Airport as the hub’s new travel retail partner, covering all categories.

At RAK, DFA is set to deliver a ‘refreshed, innovative and customer-centric’ retail environment across the airport’s duty-free and retail portfolio.

LVMH-owned DFS Group has executed a series of divestments and concession transfers in recent months. In March it announced the transfer of its travel retail concessions in Los Angeles International Airport and San Francisco International Airport, also to DFA.

This year has also seen Avolta enter into an agreement with DFS to acquire 100% of its operations in Okinawa while China Tourism Group Duty Free (CTG Duty-Free), struck an agreement to acquire DFS’s travel retail business in Hong Kong and Macau, as well as its intangible assets in Greater China. DFS has also withdrawn from the ‘seven-star’ Yalong Bay project. 

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