Dubai Duty Free

10 years ago I would have agreed that DDF was the place to shop in regard to prices. These days you can just forget about it. I find the staff arrogant and incompetent. The lack of knowledge in the products they are selling is unbelievable. Customer service, polite manners - they don't want to know about that, just far too arrogant. I fly via Dubai several times a year but I avoid the DDF and go straight to the lounge these days as DDF is a pure waste of time and nothing but a very upsetting and unpleasant experience in every way.

Prices are horrible. Even Australia is cheaper. I asked them about a medicine, they told me 14 tablets for $25. Here in Australia you can easily get 30 tablets for $33. They are robbers. Avoid them at all cost.

Prices are cheaper in Dubai city than at DDF. Again, in the UK, they are at times much cheaper. Staff at DDF is hopeless. I cannot imagine how the authorities concerned at DDF can ever tolerate such an attitude.

I have found shops in Dubai are cheaper than Dubai Duty Free. Liquors are cheaper in India, Thailand & Sri Lanka duty frees than Dubai. Dubai Duty Free is good to go around, and a good bet is to buy a lottery ticket.

I have compared "Sheridans" at DDF, Manchester Duty Free and Mumbai Duty Free and found Mumbai Duty Free is the cheapest option. DDF is worst for shopping and full of arrogant sales people.

I have been through Dubai several times in the last six years and have been tremendously disappointed with the service and prices of the items sold in the duty free shops. I bought some gifts, mostly perfume and cologne items for my cousins, and thought I was getting a good deal on these items but I later priced these items and found that I paid 3 to 4 times the price that I would have paid if I would have went to the mall. My opinion is to avoid these shops and don't fall for supposed "duty-free; tax free" shopping.

I bought some perfume in DDF and its £10 cheaper in UK, what a rip off!! I asked them how much the perfume was in pounds and they processed the card transaction THEN told me! I think they are trained to scam people? I'll never shop there again!

Just made the error of purchasing a digital camera at DDF priced £118. I can buy the same in UK for £91, plus no problems with warranty if it goes wrong. Do not be deceived. Dubai Duty Free is no longer the place for bargains it used to be.

Excellent place, with good staff all over.

Emirates airlines are superb, I have been flying with them and others circa 16 years, I have seen the changes in Dubai airport during these years. The duty free section has expanded tremendously, but has in my opinion become less value for money spent than it used to be. It is unfair to compare it with internet prices as their are little overheads involved with internet purchasing. I find the staff generally very courteous and well presented, especially in the perfumery outlets. Lack of knowledge in the tech outlets becomes very apparent through discussion with the staff. They are there to sell the goods only, which is a great let down for the purchaser. I now fly through Dubai every month and avoid the duty free heading straight to the business lounges for a little rnr before my onward flight. Duty free manager, there is a lot more you need to address.

I travel through Dubai quite frequently and I agree that sales personnel at the duty free shops are quite pathetic at what they do. They are up to their neck with arrogance. I recommend duty free shopping at Changi International.

Bought the usual spirits and cigarettes on my way to Aus in 2008. Excellent prices and I dropped my bottle of gin which broke all over the floor. The staff were excellent, cleaned up and gave me a new bottle for free without question. Even though I had left the shop.

I loved Dubai Duty Free. It had everything that I wanted to buy at the last minute!

One thing to watch at Dubai Duty Free is the sales staff incorrectly charging. I purchased two Clinque items of different value but staff scanned the higher priced product twice. My fault should have checked but incompetent and uninterested staff is what I have consistently found over the past 7 years. Tried to buy a camera once a number of years ago and there was a query on my HSBC credit card so instead of calling and verifying, the purchase was declined. My HSBC credit card was a nightmare anyway and was queried constantly by equally incompetent call centre people in India. Needless to say cut that card up as a bad joke. I agree the terminal over the years has been like a refugee camp. I rarely buy a thing in Dubai Duty Free these days.

I purchased a digital camera in DDF .After a few months it stopped working and I sent it out for repairs with shipping fees. It was sent back exactly the same with no job card, comments nothing. Total scam! After reading so many comments regarding faults with electrical goods I will avoid it in future, and so should you.

I agree with most of the comments. You pay less for some stuff but then you might easily get in trouble with the quality. The Samsung phone which I got two months ago from the duty free in Dubai broke and the local costumer service in the country I'm living in has refused to process the warranty. I'm really disappointed.

Just got ripped off at Dubai Duty Free. Bought a Braun item for 325 AED, and am looking at the same item on Amazon UK for 30 GBP, which converted is 157 AED. More than 50% cheaper to buy in the UK.

Other than price issues has anyone experienced faulty merchandise as I have on a few occasions? I travel to Dubai at least 8 times a year and I always buy my kid something on the way back. I still have not purchased an electronic toy that was not damaged one way or the other. The latest were two DVD sets of a cartoon series; 18 discs in all with 5 episodes per disk. The same problem with all 18 disks!! Only the first episode on each disk had sound. The DVD’s were made in UAE, and it seems like an easy way for the company to get rid of their defective products; the buyer won’t know till they’re in another country. That same day I purchased $150 computer mouse. One week later the darn thing is not working!! The list goes on. I promise myself to never buy there again, but I keep on breaking that promise. It’s not just a price thing, it’s the easiest way to get rid off their junk. I can’t be the only unlucky SOB out there, anyone else?

Emirates Airline is superb but the DDF staff needs sales training.

Just browsing the many negative comments regarding DDF and I must say I agree with most of them. I travel through Dubai many times over a year and have been tempted only a couple of time to purchase as I was 1. forgetful and this was a last chance and 2. Lazy... On both occasions my purchase was found a few days later always cheaper elsewhere..... Can Mr Muntazir please explain how he orders items from DDF as the website does allow this but only for raffle tickets.... Wouldn't use the service but was just curious?

I found Dubai Duty Free a good place to shop for the last minute gifts and dvd's. Maybe the selling price is higher than for the same product in Dubai Malls but I don't complain as I forgot to get those items earlier.

I travel through Dubai at least once a month since 2004. I've never seen such arrogant and non-commercial people who are working as salespersons, especially the Filipino who are the most arrogant and the most stupid also. Once wanting to buy a diamond ring (0,7carat) was such a hideous task that I decided to go out and bought it cheaper than in the DDF and of course less tension with the salespersons, often young inexperienced poor Filipino. Sometimes it is worth taking a half day off and go to a hypermarket than waiting to buy from the DDF where nobody cares for you.

I have been travelling with Emirates since 2006 and the in-flight service is pretty decent. My impression about the Duty Free is however different. I got a rude awakening the very first time I was there. I'd just like to say how incomprehensibly rude and moronic the sales staff are at the gold shop.
I'm about to fly Emirates again in few months and this time I'm in good mind of making a complaint if I come across ignorant/rude staff.

I have been travelling from Australia every year to the UK for the last 12 years. After trialling many airlines/duty frees, I can say Emirates Airlines is THE BEST and I would not go with anyone else. However (there's always a but) the duty free is hopeless in terms of service. They are so uninterested and uneducated about their products and just plain rude. Now I just head for the lounge.

Other than price issues has anyone experienced faulty merchandise as I have on a few occasions? I travel to Dubai at least 8 times a year and I always buy my kid something on the way back. I still have not purchased an electronic toy that was not damaged one way or the other. The latest were two DVD sets of a cartoon series; 18 discs in all with 5 episodes per disk. The same problem with all 18 disks!! Only the first episode on each disk had sound. The DVD’s were made in UAE, and it seems like an easy way for the company to get rid of their defective products; the buyer won’t know till they’re in another country. That same day I purchased $150 computer mouse. One week later the darn thing is not working!! The list goes on… I promise myself to never buy there again, but I keep on breaking that promise. It’s not just a price thing, it’s the easiest way to get rid off their junk. I can’t be the only unlucky SOB out there, anyone else??

Dubai Duty Free is actually the biggest duty free i've seen so far... i've experienced buying somewhere also like singapore, greece etc., Dubai Duty Free is the best! I think you find the price expensive because of the low exchange rate but when you transact with your card or you pay with their currency, you'll find it cheaper than other duty free. With regards to customer service, it was really great actually... I've encountered professionals and knowledgeable staffs in perfume area. I think, staff gesture, in return, depends on the attitude of their customers also... anyway, we all have different personalities.

DDF has a cheap prices compared to other duty free shops. Only the electronics seem a little bit high priced.

I've heard that every year on December 20th (the birthday of DDF), they discount products by how 'old' the DDF is - this year it will be 25%. Does anyone know if this applies to all products or, just selected products?

I AGREE! Dubai duty free is a scam! especially on the latest gadgets like Wii and PS3, I find London Heathrow and Singapore much cheaper than Dubai. In Dubai the shops make money on the notion that people in Dubai don't pay tax and the duty free must be super cheap.
Do not waste your time!
And as you can see 85% of this bloggers here are saying the same thing.

The Dubai Duty free shop is not bad, but I prefer Heathrow duty free. Even though they are bit more expensive, they are friendly and knowledgeable. DDF would have been excellent except for their half witted customer service, their lack of knowledge on the products they sell, and their half witted illiterate salesperson, who can speak barely any English.

I have been through DDF 3 times in the last 6 months. My experiences so far have been excellent.
Most items are competively priced (compared to Europe) and the service has been very good. I especially like the free gift wrap service.

My flight with Emirates was excellent and I got first class service. The prices of alcohol and tobacco at DDF are the cheapest I have found.

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.

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.

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.

Hmm Jo. Dubai isn't in Europe.

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.

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.

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.

Apologies to Dubai Duty Free but they did respond within 24 hours but the email went to my junk mail folder.

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.

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.

The DDF is actually much cheaper than London or back home in Uganda. The perfumes are greatly discounted.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

I found Dubai airport shops overpriced and the staff hopeless.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Very nice airport with a multitude of gifts for everyone.

A wonderful place to be in. Simply electrifying.

Thanks for the answer. With the best regards

Svetlana - DDF is open 24 hours, as noted in the listing.

What are the business hours of Dubai Duty Free? We have 3 hours between flights, but at night.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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?

The Dubai Duty Free customer service is excellent and has achieved world class standards. Hats off to you folks.

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.

Marvellous place for shopping. Will from now on only travel with Emirates.

Just one word, ' Marvellous!

Dubai is a very cheap and the best place for shopping. It's a lot cheaper than London.

The company will open an 11,000 sq m store at Concourse 2, Terminal 3 (late 2007).

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!

I bought a superb Swiss made watch at Dubai Duty free for a fraction of what it would have cost me in the UK.

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.