Dubai Duty Free expects $2m sales hit from electronics ban

Dubai International Airport's duty free operator estimates that it will lose about $2m in sales this year from the ban on carrying most electronic devices on United States-bound flights, a senior executive said Thursday. Under new security measures announced this week, electronics larger than a mobile phone will be banned from passenger cabins on direct flights to the United States from airports in eight Muslim-majority nations, including the United Arab Emirates, starting Saturday. "We estimate that the ban will cost us around $2m in revenue for the year," Dubai Duty Free's COO Ramesh Cidambi said. The estimate is based on sales of electronics to US-bound passengers, excluding mobile phones and accessories, for 2016 and if the ban runs until the end of the year. US officials have said the ban is indefinite. Dubai Duty Free made $1.85b in total sales last year, Cidambi said. The CE of Dubai Airports, Paul Griffiths, had earlier told DubaiEye radio that the ban on electronics covers goods sold in the airport, including duty free stores. The regulations, prompted by reports that militant groups want to smuggle explosive devices in electronic gadgets, state that electronics larger than a mobile phone -- including laptops and tablets -- must be stowed with checked baggage on US-bound passenger flights.<br/>