Qatar Duty Free achieves impressive 18% sales growth amid airport expansions

In 2025, Qatar's Hamad International Airport experienced notable changes in its rankings and retail offerings following the completion of its development plan initiated in 2018. The airport, which serves as a key hub for Qatar Airways, faced a setback in the recent Skytrax Awards, losing its title as the world's top airport to Singapore Changi, but it maintained its position as the best airport in the Middle East for the 11th consecutive year. With 52.7 million passengers recorded, Doha's airport has made considerable progress, surpassing pre-pandemic levels by 36%. This achievement reflects the increased capacity and improved connections that have been a focus for the airport post-COVID-19, contrasting starkly with some European airports still recovering from pandemic effects. As part of its ongoing expansion, the airport introduced two new concourses, D and E, at the end of March 2025, adding near 30,000 square feet of retail space and increasing its capacity to handle over 65 million passengers. These extensions complete a massive infrastructure project that included the addition of 17 new aircraft contact gates, bringing the total to 62. Notably, these new concourses feature around 10 new retail outlets, which include luxury brands such as Fendi and Giorgio Armani, as well as a souk-style market and dining options like Joe & The Juice and Accessories Lab. This expansion is not just about passenger convenience; it represents a strategic effort by Qatar Duty Free to enhance the retail experience and drive growth in the airport's duty-free revenue. In tandem with these developments, Qatar Duty Free’s sales rose significantly by 18% last year, a promising indicator for future performance as the airport anticipates continued traffic growth. The upcoming 25th anniversary of the airport will see the launch of a campaign and an anticipated completion of an additional 25 retail and dining outlets by year-end. This proactive approach is aimed at creating unique consumer experiences and further solidifying the airport's reputation as a premier shopping destination for international travelers, a position that has been recognized with accolades over the past three years from competitors such as London Heathrow and Singapore Changi. As such, the combination of robust retail growth, significant airport expansions, and a focus on unique customer experiences positions Qatar Duty Free to capitalize on the recovery of air travel in the region and the prolonged demand for duty-free shopping. These developments suggest that Hamad International Airport will continue to thrive as a leading global hub, especially in the increasingly competitive landscape of airport duty-free retailing.