QATAR. Qatar Duty Free sales surged by +18% year-on-year in 2024, outpacing the +15% passenger growth rate at Hamad International Airport (to 52.7 million).

The company today revealed details of its annual trading performance, hailing “an exceptional year” and saluting the “symbiotic relationship” between the travel retailer and Hamad International Airport.

Retail and F&B highlights

Qatar Duty Free maintained its innovation drive in 2024, introducing 18 retail concepts and immersive experiences. Key achievements included:

• Dior Luxury Beauty Retreat: The first-of-its-kind in an airport globally, the concept blends luxury beauty and wellbeing, including Dior’s first dedicated men’s grooming space, the Dior Luxury Barber Experience.
• Eyewear Innovation: The opening of a multi-brand store by Thélios and the region’s first Digital Retail Concept store in collaboration with Kering Eyewear.
• Integrated Campaigns: Airport-wide activations such as ‘Live The F1 Life’ for the Formula 1 Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix 2024, Chanel’s Winter Tale—its largest airport activation to date—and YSL Beauty’s Summer Mirage campaign.

In food & beverage, Qatar Duty Free broadened its offer in line with its commitment to delivering ‘Something for Everyone’, with six new and upgraded concepts, including the locally inspired specialty coffee concept, Le Petit Camion. Hamad International Airport also achieved FSSC 22000 certification, becoming the first airport globally to meet this prestigious food safety standard.

Global recognition 

Accolades in 2024 included:

• Retailer of the Year (Frontier Awards)
• Airport Food & Beverage Offer of the Year (FAB Awards, organised by The Moodie Davitt Report)
• World’s Best Airport for Shopping (Skytrax)

Qatar Duty Free noted that it became the first retailer to simultaneously hold all three titles above, which it said “underscored its leadership in the travel retail industry”.

Strategic partnerships 

Qatar Duty Free said its achievements are rooted in its close collaboration with Qatar Airways and Hamad International Airport.

“As the flagship carrier of Qatar, Qatar Airways provides QDF with unparalleled access to a vast global customer base, fostering synergies that enhance passenger experiences across all touchpoints. Meanwhile, Hamad International Airport’s state-of-the-art infrastructure and commitment to excellence enable QDF to set new benchmarks in retail and hospitality. This triadic relationship ensures seamless operations, innovative offerings and a shared vision for elevating the travel journey.”

Investing in leadership and technology

Qatar Duty Free strengthened its leadership team and workforce in 2024, and it finalised the development of an advanced ecommerce and data-sharing platform, set to launch in 2025.

“These platforms will empower brand partners with comprehensive insights into their performance, driving data-driven decision-making and enhanced collaboration,” the company said.

Qatar Airways Chief Retail and Hospitality Officer Thabet Musleh commented: “2024 has been an extraordinary year for Qatar Duty Free. These achievements reflect our team’s dedication to redefining travel retail and delivering exceptional experiences.

“As a business, we have a shared vision for the heights we want to scale in retail and F&B and the elevated experiences we aspire to deliver. These milestones in 2024 are a testament to the belief that our team and partners have in this vision and the dedication and hard work which has gone into making it a reality.”

He added: “As we approach our 25^th anniversary, we are poised to introduce game-changing innovations that will set new standards in the industry. Launching over 25 new retail and F&B concepts, introducing advanced ecommerce and data-sharing platforms to enhance brand partnerships, and hosting the globally renowned Trinity Forum in Doha are just a few of our ambitious plans.

“Qatar Duty Free remains committed to pushing boundaries in retail excellence and ‘experiencentricity,’ ensuring its place at the forefront of the global travel retail industry.

“2025 is going to see us push boundaries in ‘experiencentricity’ even further: some of the innovations we have planned are true game-changers.” ✈