Airport retailer Dubai Duty Free reported a 10 per cent rise in sales to Dh3.67bn ($1bn) in the first half of 2018, helped by new developments at Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Al Maktoum International.
This year "has been a fantastic year for Dubai Duty Free so far,” said Colm McLoughlin, executive vice-chairman and chief executive, in a statement on Thursday. “We have continuously grown our business and are happy to see a double-digit increase for the first half."
With new retail areas operational, and other ongoing retail developments coming on-stream at both airports, DDF is set to reach the $2bn mark at the end of this year, he added.
The results build on 5.6 per cent year-on-year growth in sales in 2017 to Dh7.05bn on the back of a resurgence in tourism numbers, DDF reported in January. The figure reversed a two-year sales decline when the strong US dollar had held back growth, the retailer said at the time.
_______________
Read more:
[ Dubai Duty Free has record sales in 2017, reversing a two-year decline ]
[ Portrait of a Nation: the expatriate who built a billion dollar duty free in Dubai ]
[ Dubai Duty Free sales dip on soft retail market ]
______________
Sales growth in the first half of 2018 was driven by liquor, perfumes, and tobacco Dubai Duty Free said.
Dubai Duty Free recorded a total of 12,769,905 individual sales transactions with average daily sales of Dh20.28 million.
Retail outlets in airport departure halls accounted for Dh3.2bn – 88 per cent of the total and an 11 per cent increase over the first half of 2017.
Sales across all concourses saw significant increases with overall transactions in Concourse C in DXB Terminal 3 up 60 per cent over last year. The uptick was mainly due to new retail areas opening in recent months as part of an ongoing refurbishment to expand the concourse to 4,700 square metres, Dubai Duty Free said.
Also at DXB, Concourse A sales were up by 16 per cent, Terminal 2 Departure sales rose 14 per cent, Concourse D sales by 8 per cent, and Concourse B by 6 per cent.
Meanwhile Al Maktoum International Airport Passenger Terminal Building (PTB) has this year completed the redevelopment of the existing departures area, with new gifts, liquor, electronics, perfume and cosmetics space. By year-end, Al Maktoum will house 4,500 sq m of Dubai Duty Free retail space, up from the previous 2,500 sq m.
The company is working to meet rising demand from Chinese visitors passing through Dubai’s airports, who account for 15 per cent of total sales. Dubai Duty Free has recruited 190 Chinese staff to service customers this year alone, it said.
MEDIEVIL (1998)
Developer: SCE Studio Cambridge
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Console: PlayStation, PlayStation 4 and 5
Rating: 3.5/5
Specs
Engine: 2-litre
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 255hp
Torque: 273Nm
Price: Dh240,000
RESULTS
6.30pm UAE 1000 Guineas Trial Conditions (TB) US$100,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
Winner Final Song, Christophe Soumillon (jockey), Saeed bin Suroor (trainer).
7.05pm Handicap (TB) $135,000 (Turf) 1,000m
Winner Almanaara, Dane O’Neill, Doug Watson.
7.40pm Handicap (TB) $175,000 (D) 1,900m
Winner Grand Argentier, Brett Doyle, Doug Watson.
8.15pm Meydan Challenge Listed Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner Major Partnership, Patrick Cosgrave, Saeed bin Suroor.
8.50pm Dubai Stakes Group 3 (TB) $200,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner Gladiator King, Mickael Barzalona, Satish Seemar.
9.25pm Dubai Racing Club Classic Listed Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 2,410m
Winner Universal Order, Richard Mullen, David Simcock.
Juvenile arthritis
Along with doctors, families and teachers can help pick up cases of arthritis in children.
Most types of childhood arthritis are known as juvenile idiopathic arthritis. JIA causes pain and inflammation in one or more joints for at least six weeks.
Dr Betina Rogalski said "The younger the child the more difficult it into pick up the symptoms. If the child is small, it may just be a bit grumpy or pull its leg a way or not feel like walking,” she said.
According to The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases in US, the most common symptoms of juvenile arthritis are joint swelling, pain, and stiffness that doesn’t go away. Usually it affects the knees, hands, and feet, and it’s worse in the morning or after a nap.
Limping in the morning because of a stiff knee, excessive clumsiness, having a high fever and skin rash are other symptoms. Children may also have swelling in lymph nodes in the neck and other parts of the body.
Arthritis in children can cause eye inflammation and growth problems and can cause bones and joints to grow unevenly.
In the UK, about 15,000 children and young people are affected by arthritis.
Du Football Champions
The fourth season of du Football Champions was launched at Gitex on Wednesday alongside the Middle East’s first sports-tech scouting platform.“du Talents”, which enables aspiring footballers to upload their profiles and highlights reels and communicate directly with coaches, is designed to extend the reach of the programme, which has already attracted more than 21,500 players in its first three years.
SPECS
Engine: 2-litre 4-cylinder petrol (V Class); electric motor with 60kW or 90kW powerpack (EQV)
Power: 233hp (V Class, best option); 204hp (EQV, best option)
Torque: 350Nm (V Class, best option); TBA (EQV)
On sale: Mid-2024
Price: TBA
