EVOLUTION OF THE MIDDLE EAST DUTY FREE AND TRAVEL RETAIL INDUSTRY & FORECASTS FOR THE FUTURE. Doug Newhouse, Editor The Travel Retail Business www.trend-news.com
DUBAI DUTY FREE – DUBAI AIRPORT
AER RIANTA INTERNATIONAL MIDDLE EAST
Bahrain Duty Free
Qatar Duty Free Cyprus Duty Free
ABU DHABI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
New Midfield Terminal
JORDAN: QUEEN ALIA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
KUWAIT CITY AIRPORT
Kuwait City Airport
BEIRUT DUTY FREE – BEIRUT AIRPORT
IRAQ DUTY FREE – BAGHDAD AIRPORT
SO WHERE IS THE MIDDLE EAST INDUSTRY IN THE FIRST NINE MONTHS OF 2008?
• • • • • • The total duty free and travel retail business in the Middle East was up by +14.8% in the first nine months of 2008, compared with the global growth rate of +9.6%. The highest product category growth rates in the Middle East and globally were recorded by the confectionery category with +22% and +14.2% respectively. Duty free and travel retail sales of fragrances and cosmetics in the Middle East grew by +18.2% in the first nine months, compared with the global growth rate of +10.5%. Duty free and travel retail wines and spirits sales grew by +14.8% in the Middle East in the first nine months, compared with a global growth rate of +9.6%. Travel retail sales of luxury goods rose by +14.7% in the Middle East in the first nine months, and by +7.8% in the global travel retail market. Duty free sales of tobacco products rose by +13.5% in the first nine months of 2008, compared with a +6.2% growth rate in the global duty free market.
And the bottom line is:
• DUTY FREE AND TRAVEL RETAIL SALES IN THE MIDDLE EAST HAVE DEVELOPED AT A MUCH FASTER PACE OVER THE FIRST NINE MONTHS THAN IN THE REST OF THE WORLD AND ALSO AT A MUCH FASTER RATE THAN THE AVERAGE GROWTH RATE OF GLOBAL TRAFFIC OF +10.6%.