Beauty / news
Gulf Airport Duty-Free Beauty Sales Plunge 30-35% Amid Geopolitical Turmoil
Beauty sales at Gulf Cooperation Council airports have fallen 30-35% in the first five months of 2026 versus the same period in 2025, as geopolitical tensions disrupt travel and tourism in the region.
The Middle East travel retail market is experiencing its sharpest contraction since the pandemic, triggered by the US-Israel attack on Iran on February 28. Beauty, the dominant category in Gulf airports, has been hit particularly hard.
According to Generation Research, which tracks the duty-free channel, January 2026 sales were ahead of the previous year, but February slipped slightly. However, March and April sales were less than half of 2025 levels. May showed some recovery, but overall, Generation estimates GCC beauty sales for January to May 2026 are down by roughly 30% to 35% compared to the same period in 2025.
The downturn reflects the severe impact on travel and tourism, both of which underpin airport duty-free shopping. At the height of the crisis, Iran targeted US military bases across the GCC, some in close proximity to civilian airports.
A short-term memorandum of understanding has been signed between Iran and the Trump administration, but Israel is not a party to the deal, leaving the situation unresolved. Brands are advised to take a long-term view as the region recovers.