Dubai Duty Free

Dubai Duty Free (DDF) is the tax-free shopping haven located at Dubai International Airport. With a huge range of cosmetics and perfumes, gold and jewellery, electronics, tobacco products, and alcohol, it is consistently ranked as one of the top airport retail operations in the world.

DDF is famous for its promotions, notably the luxury car raffle. Massive discounts can be obtained on December 20, the anniversary of its opening. For example in 2006, it celebrated its 23rd year by offering a 23% discount for the day.

Dubai Duty free is open 24 hours a day. The majority of stores are located in the departure area, although there is also a smaller section in arrivals.

Reader Reviews / Additional Information

ALLWYN
hi ...i...like...to.....work....dubai...airport.. ... n..u..help....me...pl z...e-mail...allwynmp@hotmail ...
ALLWYN
hi ...i...like...to.....work....dubai...airport.. ... n....help....me...plz ...e-mail...allwynmp@hotmail ...
Raul
Dubai Duty Free is the worst. They make claims of surpassing their previous sales record but that will happen since so many passengers use the airport. However, try comparing the average spending per passenger. I can assure you that even Oman will surpass. Also, the website has been made by some loser. So many duty frees offer services like online booking of stuff and prices etc but Dubai Duty free website is historic. Unfriendly and arrogant staff as well as airport officials and the general atmosphere is that of a 3rd rated shopping mall. Recommendation: don't buy anything, head for the Emirates Lounge.
Paul, Bristol
I want to buy a Sony HDR-CX12, but like everyone else, we can only price up raffle tickets from the web site. What a joke. I must say I fly all the time and Emirates are by far the best, but their 'hub' airport is nothing more than a second rate shopping mall. PS. I if newer electronics at a cheaper rate at London Heathrow. I also get proper guarentees and decent staff, so shop there! PPS, Hope Emirates opens a route to Bristol soon.
Jay Mody
Dubai Duty Free is worst in the world. It's expensive plus the staff is also uneducated about the products. Indian duty free is cheaper than Dubai. 1ltr Black Label in Dubai $32 and in India is $29. Chivas Regal in Dubai is $39 and India 2 for $52. All cosmetics and perfumes are also 25% expensive than city malls . The only things cheap at DDF are tobacco and cigarettes.
Editor
Hmm Jo. Dubai isn't in Europe.
Jo Bower, Chester
I don't know about electronics but I know that cosmetics, perfume and cigarettes are the cheapest I have found in any airport in Europe.
Kurian
Be aware. It is really overpriced. I bought a Kodak M1033 camera last week for US$270.00. Just checked the web and the average price is $189.00 in Tigerdirect and all other retailers. $100.00 more on a $200.00 product! Wow what a killing.
Jaycee, India
You can get better bargains in the Dubai shops. Visit the Gold Souk (market) area for better choices and prices. DDF staff are ignorant of products, rules and regulations of carrying duty free items into other countries and not at all customer friendly. Moreover they are also racial in their approach towards Asians in general.
Ian Tivey
Apologies to Dubai Duty Free but they did respond within 24 hours but the email went to my junk mail folder.
Ian Tivey
Another victim here of the "alcohol not in sealed bag" problem, as my duty free was confiscated during transit in Bahrain. My email to DDF has gone into a black hole despite 13 names listed on their "contact us" page.
Sheldon
I fly 17-25 times a year with a number of airlines and must say that Emirates as an airline are very, no extremely professional. It is a pleasure to fly with the amazing staff and their friendly service. I will say that it is the shop in Dubai that lets them down. I have seen some items cheaper on the UK high streets, been served better by 5 year olds at a lemonade stand and my overall impression of Dubai Duty Free is that it is a trap for those that are stuck in the airport which, yes is at times like refugee camp. Fly with Emirates and I guarantee you will love it, but in the airport grab a coffee, find the Emirates lounge and read a good book.
ORIMA JAMES
The DDF is actually much cheaper than London or back home in Uganda. The perfumes are greatly discounted.
abhay
I wanted to buy some gold but the staff were not interested in selling small items at all. They totally ignored me and my wife. Customer service is very poor in the gold shop. Not recommended.
Laura
I bought a carton of Marlboro cigarettes for $13.25. This is significantly cheaper than in the US which is currently at around $40.00 a carton.
Gary, Leeds
Swarovski crystal is a lot cheaper in DDF than it is in Europe, but inspect the piece thoroughly before concluding the sale. We bought the Orchids and the Unicorn and the sales assistant had to bring four boxes of each as the first three were all damaged.
james memery
I bought 4 bottles of spirits at Dubai Duty Free. One was a Martell XO brandy. They placed the bottles in Dubai Duty Free bags. I got a flight to Amsterdam in transit to Dublin. The goods where seized as they should have being sealed in special bags. On the KLM flight to Holland there was no security problem! I was not advised anywhere about security from European airports. If I had known, I could have the bottles in my bag and checked it in as hand baggage. What moron thought up this security procedure?
Alex
DDF is a waste of space as are the people working there. Avoid the place like the plague. Staff are surly, unhelpful and completely incompetent.
I am travelling with Emirates later this month much against my will. Last trip with them was a disaster and their staff were just as unhelpful as the ones in DDF. I wrote a letter of complaint to them but they did not have the courtesy to reply.
Ol' Jim, hisself
I bought some inexpensive concentrated perfume in fancy bottles. Reasonable prices, and I cannot find them anywhere else. Not worth the $700 to travel from Baghdad, however.
Michael, Bangkok
I was thinking of buying some gold while in transit when I soon return to Europe from Bangkok, but the comments here made me change my mind. Dubai Duty Free is NOT what it used to be, and the monumental mess and noise and inconvenience is only adding to the fatigue of compulsory transit (I spent about 2 hrs on my way out a month or so ago). All this makes one the easiest prey for the scruple less and often tired, incompetent or naturally arrogant attendants. Forget it.
paul
I went to Dubai Duty Free recently. I bought perfumes and nuts. I wanted to buy some gold but the staff were not interested in selling at all. They totally ignored me and my wife. Customer service is very poor in the gold shop. Not recommended.
Orion
I would like to see a mega music store in DDF, a toy shop selling collectors' aircraft (Corgi/Franklin Mint), and an ice-cream shop selling Rum n Raisin. This flavour is not available in the Gulf.
Chris
I bought a Philips Arcitec electric shaver from Dubai Duty Free only to be stopped at security for my onward connection in Paris as the shaver contains liquid.
I am very disappointed in DDF that the staff are not trained well enough to have known that this would be a problem. Surely they should know the contents of the items that they sell.
Suresh
If you are a Internet shopper, you know it is much cheaper here in UK on-line than in Dubai duty free. Big difference is after sales customer service if you are buying expensive items. In the UK everyone knows the rules & regulations are very strict and consumer friendly so I wouldn't bother buying big stuff from DDF.
Harry P
Dubai Duty Free is for harried and forgetful people like me. It is not for diligent shoppers who can and will spot similar (if not the same) deals anywhere. The principle of pricing is universal and any person who has a good sense of buying through the internet will easily see that high street prices are almost always higher by about 30 to 40 percent. DUBAI DUTY FREE WILL NOT BE SIGNIFICANTLY CHEAPER THAN INTERNET SHOPPING especially SALES etc.
The biggest advantage for the shopper is that you can conveniently forget to buy those silly gifts for your loved ones and make up the loss by purchasing them at the last moment and saving your skin. Disadvantages - well as many have pointed out : once you buy, there is no return!
Kulas
I spend 5 hours on the internet everyday looking and comparing prices. I have not seen any price list on the net for Dubai Duty Free (except for the raffle tickets). This guy Muntazir is lying. Some items In Bahrain duty free are cheaper than Dubai.
Alex
I found Dubai airport shops overpriced and the staff hopeless.
Editor
Matt, perhaps it is because I don't work for Dubai Duty Free and am not connected with them. So why should I be held accountable for, or have to answer their alleged failings? If I can answer a straightforward question I'm glad to help out.
matt
After reading these posts I can't help but wonder why the editor responds to questions regarding opening hours etc. but not to consumer complaints. Editor, can you please explain this to us?
Dubai res
I fly from this airport regularly, crowded and at times it's like a refugee camp. It's cheaper to shop in Dubai, the duty free is a rip off, Thailand's King Power is cheaper, believe me I live here. The staff are clueless, they nothing about the products that are on sale, this is due to their high turnover and being paid peanuts. anyone who thinks this is a paradise are saying a lot about where they come from. I cant help but think the people posting good points here are actually Emiratis or work for Emirates.
Doug Mack
I have been travelling through Dubai for several years now. Here are my thoughts on DDF. Anything electronic is generally 6 - 12 months behind the rest of the world. Their prices are usually higher than most other airport DF zones. They don't know their products nor have any interest in finding out about them. Emirates is opening a new terminal and should be operational by the end of this year, 2008. Hopefully things will improve otherwise it will be more of the same except on a massive scale.
John, Cambridgeshire
I spent ages in DDF looking at compact cameras, and when I decided which one to get I was told it wasn't in stock. Why didn't they tell me that earlier when I was asking about it?
The staff didn't know very much about their products either.
Barry
Arrived back in UK yesterday having bought an MP3 player at Dubai Duty Free. Before buying I specifically asked the assistant dealing with audio equipment whether the player that I wanted to buy would play music files from itunes (AAC format). He said "Yes" so I bought the player. I opened the box today and the instructions specifically state that it does not play AAC files. The player is of no use to me. I was mis-sold and am disappointed and annoyed.
Alex Green
Dubai Duty Free is NOT cheap! It may be cheaper than in London, but that's not saying much. For an over-hyped store it has no useful website and the prices and items remain a mystery.
Bogdan/Romania
Very nice airport with a multitude of gifts for everyone.
Sachin
A wonderful place to be in. Simply electrifying.
Svetlana,Moscow
Thanks for the answer. With the best regards
Editor
Svetlana - DDF is open 24 hours, as noted in the listing.
Svetlana,Moscow
What are the business hours of Dubai Duty Free? We have 3 hours between flights, but at night.
thriftee@gmail.com
Last night at Dubai Duty Free I purchased two bottles of alcohol. I had no worries as the staff at the alcohol store at the Duty Free reassured me, I
could take up to 2 litres into Brunei as hand luggage.

This afternoon something very unpleasant happened at the Brunei Airport. They confiscated all my alcohol saying it was illegal to bring alcohol in hand
luggage!
I wish the DDF ground staff had been more responsible in advising me. I clearly recollect the cashier at the Liquors and Tobacco Shop telling me "no worries you can take it in, many people do." I still have the receipt and can confirm my actions.
I understand as a Duty Free increasing sales is the priority. But please to not neglect your fans. I am a PR of Singapore and I absolutely love Dubai but I am deeply betrayed by how little responsibility the staff seem to be taking. I buy alcohol often and never have I been humiliated and had my stuff confiscated before.
MAXIMILIAN
I have travelled with a lot of airlines and have found Emirates are the best. Also shopping at DUBAI airport is cheaper than other airports. I personally recommend Emirates to anyone. Thank you Emirates for the safe and pleasant flights I have experienced.
Houman K
Muntazir Al Mahdi
You cannot check any Dubai Duty Free prices on Internet. Neither can you let them be delivered to you. If you can order on-line, how is that duty free? You are just lying and telling here stories to people. Shame on you!
The same story about you cannot find anything in Iran. You get everything in Tehran's shopping centres. Are you doing here just some pan-Arabist propaganda again?
Sara
I agree with Raj Kanwal, I am trying to find prices on-line but no luck. I was trying to find Chanel Sunglasses at DDF but to my surprise they don't have a Chanel counter.
Robert
The Dubai Duty Free website only gives you basic information. The only thing you can actually buy is tickets for the cars you can win. There is no information on actual DDF items i.e. prices, availability etc.
danny
Well I agree with the statement Raj Kanwal has made. Go on 'Dubai Duty Free' take the challenge and publish the prices of your goods, and let have honesty and transparency. Let the shoppers be able to compare prices.
langmead
How does Muntazir Al Mahdi manage to order from DDF? There is no website for ordering or even to find out if there is stock?
jango
The Dubai Duty Free customer service is excellent and has achieved world class standards. Hats off to you folks.
Raj kanwal
Well if they are so cheap than U.K. or elsewhere why not publish the prices on their website so travellers like me can compare the prices. The truth is that if you buy from U.K. through sales and deals, you get lot cheaper than dubai duty free.
beatrice atek
Marvellous place for shopping. Will from now on only travel with Emirates.
waseem
Just one word, ' Marvellous!
bilal sheikh
Dubai is a very cheap and the best place for shopping. It's a lot cheaper than London.
Editor
The company will open an 11,000 sq m store at Concourse 2, Terminal 3 (late 2007).
Muntazir Al Mahdi
I order all my stuff from Dubai Duty Free Shop (DDFS). Chocolates, Electronics, CD's & DVD's, Novels and all other stuff! Back home (Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania - East Africa) is just too damn expensive! Currently I'm in Iran, and I don't get nothing here so I order all my stuff from DDFS. You do the same!
Adrian Sleeman
I bought a superb Swiss made watch at Dubai Duty free for a fraction of what it would have cost me in the UK.
Mike, Bristol
Personally I found that Dubai Duty Free is a lot cheaper than the duty free shops at UK airports. They also have a better choice.

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