Bahrain Airport Company (BAC) has signed two concession agreements for core category duty free and speciality retail with Bahrain Duty Free Company (BDFC) encompassing the new passenger terminal which is due to open in Q1 2020.

As reported in November 2018 when news of the contract awards was first announced, the duty free agreement will be for 15 years and the retail contract for 10.

The concession agreements were signed in the presence His Excellency the Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications and Bahrain Airport Company Chairman, Eng Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed and Bahrain Duty Free Company Chairman Farouk Yousuf Almoayyed.

Also in attendance at the recent signing ceremony were BAC Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Yousif Al Binfalah, Gulf Air Group Holding Chief Executive Officer Paul Kehoe and other officials.

‘KEY COMMERCIAL HUB’

Ahmed Mohammed said: “We look forward to working with BDFC to improve the shopping experience for passengers in the new terminal. Most airports are places that travellers have to go through. This is an airport we hope they will want to go to. The new duty free area will be four-times larger than the existing terminal and retail areas will be three-times bigger, offering passengers more variety and transforming Bahrain International Airport into a key commercial hub.

“Duty Free shopping is one of the most popular parts of the airport experience and we are confident that passengers will appreciate the enhanced selection of goods and competitive prices. With the launch of the new terminal in 2020, we look forward to delivering a hassle-free airport experience that offers comfort, connections, and character.”

Almoayyed added: “Bahrain Duty Free Company are honoured to extend our longstanding relationship with Bahrain Airport Company. The new passenger terminal building is one of the most important infrastructural developments in the kingdom of Bahrain. As a proud Bahraini company, we look forward to offering an entirely new retail experience to passengers travelling through the new facility.”

In addition to core categories, the new duty free area will house 30 brands entering Bahrain for the first time and offer a variety of products including fashion, accessories, eyewear, toys, electronics, perfume, cosmetics, gold, tobacco and international confectionaries. BDFC will be responsible for managing and operating retail points of sale in the duty free area and its facilities at Bahrain International Airport.

Gulf Air Group Holding and BDFC formed a joint venture in 2018 to invest in the arrival and departure terminals to increase the contribution of the aviation sector to the local economy. This was in line with the objectives of Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030.