Top 10 Duty-Free Stores

The world of travel retail has undergone a major transformation in recent years, with duty-free stops becoming hubs of innovative design, digital experiences, and local cultural expressions.

To continue our previous article regarding Airport design coming on leaps and bounds in recent years, as designers with a particular eye on duty free retail, we wanted to showcase the latest bravest thinking for travel retail store design. 

In travel retail design, there are many aspects to consider regarding opening successful customer experiences, from the architecture dictating the shopfloor to lighting levels outside the space, retailers occupying sites nearby, retail design guidelines and of course, the duty free operator’s signature brand. Within the space, an interior designer specialising in travel retail design will design layouts, map customer touchpoints, assess finishes and always create focal points to make sure each duty free store has unique features.  

Below, we will showcase the top shops as chosen by our team and a few of our recent projects too where we’ve delivered the concepts. 

1 . Dubai International Airport, Dubai

Dubai Airport takes luxury and technology to new heights, with its duty-free zones offering spacious layouts, seamless digital integration, and personalized services that cater to the high expectations of international travellers, there are trolleys for customers to use. The duty-free in Dubai airport is famous for it’s scale, it is incredibly vast. The design incorporates digital displays for interactive promotions, touchpoints for convenient purchases, and zones dedicated to specific luxury brands, ensuring an elevated shopping experience. Each area has a different ceiling pattern so it feels new, and each store has little differences, enticing the shopper to keep shopping.

2. Kempegowda Airport, Bengaluru (Bangalore), India

For Flemingo Duty-Free, our design concept at Kempegowda Airport draws inspiration from Karnataka’s state bird, the Indian Roller, known as “NeelKanth.” This beautiful bird, steeped in cultural significance, inspired key design elements across the store, from patterns and colour schemes to artistic features that evoke local landscapes and legends. The result is a shopping environment that not only provides a sense of place but also offers travellers a memorable experience rooted in the region’s heritage.

3. Istanbul Airport, Turkey

Istanbul’s duty-free area merges modern design with cultural elements, reflecting the city’s unique position as a bridge between East and West. The retail space features intricate patterns and motifs that draw on local architecture, coupled with open layouts that create a sense of grandeur and connection throughout the terminal. The swirling trees sculptures make customers feel they are shopping in a very luxurious and unique setting, we’d say these have already become an icon for the airport. 

4. Hamad International Airport, Doha

Hamad International’s retail design goes beyond shopping by incorporating art and architecture seamlessly  into the space. The iconic Lamp Bear sculpture, situated amid luxury boutiques, offers a striking focal point that engages travellers. The store layouts are designed to flow naturally from one to the next, making for an effortless shopping journey. The duty-free stores feel more like a department store than typical airport shopping. 

5. Terminal 5, Heathrow Airport, London

Built and opened in 2008 – it doesn’t feel or look like it was that long ago. In keeping with the monochrome uniform for duty free retail across the globe, Heathrow T5 uses a hard-wearing glistening marble floor finish, batoned ceiling, and brushed steel finishes. This simple colour palette allows brand pop-ups, advertising, packaging and the yellow signage to stand out. World Duty Free remain the incumbant here, and they’ve used the white fascias here, the ceiling finishes vary for each store with one store having waved white patterns against a black background, one store has floating ceiling panels that resemble the wings of a plane which is a nice touch. 

6. Hong Kong International Airport

Hong Kong’s duty-free retail blends luxury with cultural motifs that reflect the city’s essence. Materials like glass and steel evoke the urban skyline, while art installations bring in a touch of local heritage. Travelers can explore a mix of international and regional brands, making the shopping experience unique to Hong Kong.

7. Singapore Changi Airport

Changi Airport is renowned for its nature-inspired retail spaces, integrating lush greenery, water features, and digital elements to create a multi-sensory experience. Themed zones provide a unique shopping journey, from high-end fashion to curated local products, ensuring travellers find something that resonates with their preferences. The architecture inspires the ceiling details throughout the main duty-free stores, but the Airport’s indoor waterfall (biggest in the world) is naturally the biggest attraction. 

https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/jewel-changi-airport-singapore-guide/index.html

8. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

At LAX, the retail experience integrates local culture and cutting-edge technology, creating an immersive environment for travellers. The design incorporates interactive digital displays, art installations, and features inspired by the city’s landmarks, offering a distinct “LA vibe” within the airport.

Here is one of the more recent examples of integrating tech within the design which heightens the customer experience across the open areas within LAX The reason we like the duty-free stores here is because they are less fussy and therefore more sophisticated. There’s a simple design principle that runs through all stores and pop-ups. 

9. Incheon Airport, South Korea

An airport known for being futuristic in it’s design and with a strong emphasis on customer experience. The most interesting duty free offering in terms of product arrangement; this airport has separate stores for Fashion & Accessories, Beauty, High-Tech Gadgets and Luxury. The shopping experience is complemented by cultural performances, art exhibitions, and digital kiosks that provide information and promotions.

10. Terminal 2, Heathrow Airport, London

Sustainability is a key focus at Heathrow, with its duty-free design incorporating eco-friendly materials and energy-efficient lighting solutions. The use of recycled materials in finishes, alongside lighting designs that reduce energy consumption, demonstrates Heathrow’s commitment to responsible retail practices while maintaining a premium shopping experience. Terminal 2, built in 2014, features curved lines throughout across the ceiling and flooring, and the densities are high for product displays, unlike the bigger airports listed here. 

Travel retail design continues to evolve, with these airports setting benchmarks for the future. At Barber Design, we’re proud to contribute to this transformation, bringing bold concepts and innovative solutions to duty-free stores worldwide. If you’re interested in elevating your travel retail spaces, get in touch with us to learn more about our services and recent projects.