Arrivals store have been revamped with some high-end additions.
Dubai International Airport’s duty-free operator, Dubai Duty Free (DDF), has unveiled new arrivals stores after a year-long revamp of older and outdated retail units in terminals 1, 2, and 3 at the Emirates hub. The entire project will be finished in May.
In total, more than 2,171 sqm of Dubai Duty Free’s Arrivals retail space is being renewed in the multi-million dollar project. The space is roughly 60% of the company arrivals shopping area.
Arrivals shopping accounts a small proportion of Dubai Duty Free’s revenue. In 2024, it reached $147 million or 6.8% of the retailer’s total annual sales of $2.15 billion. However, arrivals sales fell by more than 12% last year, partly due to the renovation program and DDF will be looking to regain that lost momentum.
DDF’s managing director, Ramesh Cidambi, said: “The arrivals renovation marks a significant investment. Sales here are important to us, and it was necessary to upscale these retail areas for inbound passengers. The shops in T1 and T2 were very much in need of refurbishment to reflect the changes in shopping preferences of passengers using these terminals in recent years.”
Ramesh Cidambi: “The arrivals renovation marks a significant investment. Sales here are important to … More
The new-look shops are modern, engaging, and stylish. They build on a 2020 design concept developed for a T3 arrivals store, but with fresh layouts, digital displays, and better engagement elements.
Cidambi commented: “We incorporated a lot of learnings from T3 arrivals shop 4 into the redesign; zoning is very clear and some categories have been given more space and attention, such as Champagne and malt whiskies.”
For the first time in arrivals, personalized branded areas for malts have been introduced. There is also more focus on tasting and sampling opportunities so that customers can interact better with products.
Dubai Airport, terminal by terminal
The redesigned arrivals store in Terminal 1 spans 6,300 square feet (586 square meters) and was completed in February 2025 with improved visibility of promotional areas. The smaller 3,250 square-foot (302 square meters) arrivals shop in Terminal 2 had a major upgrade focused on the main categories of liquor, tobacco, perfumes, and cosmetics. The refurbishment was completed this month and introduced digital screens, and what DDF said is “a more intuitive layout.”
Terminal 3 has the biggest arrivals unit—Shop 3—which complements the already revamped Shop 4. With a retail area of 13,810 square feet (1,283 square meters), the shop now invites passengers into a sophisticated shopping experience, with clearly defined zones for wine, beer, malt whiskies, and Champagne. Elements relevant to social media include concepts such as ‘Beer Garden’, ‘Wine O’Clock’, and ‘Chill Out Zone’, designed to keep travelers in the space for longer.
The T3 arrivals store also incorporates a Cave de Champagne in a strategic partnership with LVMH’s Moët Hennessy division, now under new leadership, to draw customers into the store and elevate the shopping experience. The concept is an evolution of Moët Hennessy Travel Retail’s established and successful Les Caves Particulières boutique at Charles de Gaulle Airport. Other premium and luxury additions, such as Salon Prive, for a high-end experience, also lift the overall customer experience.
“We’ve created an environment that is not only visually appealing but also customer-centric. With the evolving retail landscape, it’s important to remain agile and responsive. With the introduction of new brands and retail concepts, we believe we have taken the arrivals experience in travel retail to another level,” said Cidambi.
Branded spaces are more prevalent at Dubai Airport’s stores.
Further refurbishments coming soon include DDF’s luxury watches and electronics shops in Concourse B later this year and in 2026. Also in 2025, Concourse A will see a major renovation of beauty stores and the opening of three new boutiques for major fashion brands, possibly by late 2026.
Dubai International is the busiest airport in the world for international traffic, and the emirate has seen a boom in tourism. In 2023, numbers grew by almost 20% to over 17 million visitors, and last year hit another record with 18.7 million visitors, up 9.2%, offering DDF plenty of scope for growth. Dubai has also become a magnet for the millionaire and billionaire jet set. According to the UBS Global Wealth Report 2024, the number of millionaires in the United Arab Emirates is set to increase by 15% from just over 200,000 in 2023 to 232,000 by 2028.
