SAUDI ARABIA. Lagardère Travel Retail has been awarded an exclusive master concession contract to operate 14 duty free and other retail spaces at Madinah Prince Mohammed Bin Abdul Aziz International Airport.
The company builds on its existing presence in the Kingdom and becomes the only duty free retailer across the country’s four main international airports.
Lagardère Travel Retail is the lead partner in a joint-venture entity, Saudi French Company for Duty Free Operations and Management, which begins operations in December.
The new outlets will cover 1,900sq m overall, including 614sq m for duty free stores. The shops, under the Aelia Duty Free and Relay brands, will feature duty free core business categories, travel accessories alongside souvenirs and snacking.
Lagardère Travel Retail said that “further developments at the airport will also present an opportunity to create new bespoke concepts to continuously meet and exceed the needs of passengers”.
Lagardère Travel Retail said it will work closely with the Kingdom’s airport authorities to contribute to the promotion and growth of travel and tourism sectors as part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.
Lagardère Travel Retail France & Luxembourg and COO Middle East & KSA Vincent Romet said: “We’re extremely proud to have been awarded this contract and to be offered the opportunity to create unique shopping experiences to more travellers in the Kingdom. Our local teams are committed to deliver the highest standards of operational excellence to our airport partners and we are all hands on deck to get ready to start the new operations before the year ends.
“Saudi Arabia is an extremely dynamic market, with opportunities to further grow our portfolio and we are very excited to open this new chapter and further consolidate the roots we’ve put down there.”
Tibah Airports, a TAV Airports-Al Rajhi joint venture, manages the airport under a contact that runs to 2037.
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