Bahrain Duty Free has praised everyone involved with the new Bahrain International Airport passenger terminal project, which culminates tomorrow (28 January 2021) with the grand opening of the new building.

The passenger terminal building is four-times the size of the previous building, with an increased capacity of 14 million passengers annually.

Bahrain Duty Free will run core duty free and speciality retail concessions over a combined footprint of around 4,700sq m. Previously, the retailer had around 1,800sq m at its disposal.

Back in 2018, Bahrain Duty Free was awarded new duty free and retail contracts (10 and 15 years respectively) at Bahrain International Airport. This allowed the retailer to invest in the departures duty free area of the new passenger terminal.

Tomorrow’s opening is a monumental landmark in the history of Bahrain Duty Free, which has been operating at Bahrain International Airport since 1991.

LANDMARK OPENING

As reported, His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, reviewed expansion developments at the new terminal on Sunday 10 January during an airport tour.

Please click the below video to see how the transition from the old terminal to the new terminal at Bahrain International Airport is progressing.

Speaking ahead of tomorrow’s inauguration, Bassam Al Wardi, who TRBusiness can confirm was recently named CEO and Board Director of Bahrain Duty Free commented: “Our team here has been working on this project since early 2016. The passion they have is unbelievable.

“Everyone has continued working during the Covid-19 pandemic. We haven’t closed at all. Despite the challenges associated with keeping everyone safe, we have all kept going and taken advantage of the significant drop in passengers to ensure the terminal was completed on time and that the duty free offer is of the highest possible standard.”

He added: “This has been a real team effort. Bahrain Duty Free employees, Aer Rianta International Middle East management, Bahrain Airport Company and the airport authorities have all played a major role.”

In providing further reflections of the project, he also outlines what passengers can expect from Bahrain Duty Free in the new facility. “We have been planning these shops quite literally since November/December 2015. It is remarkable how we have managed to open on time during this challenging period. If it wasn’t for the pandemic, we would have opened a year ago.

“From a design perspective the shops are very spacious and retail space has significantly increased.”

Al Wardi, who describes the new terminal as spacious and bright with high ceilings asserted: “We believe the duty free offering will be one of the best in the region if not the world. Added value service has been introduced and we have worked very well with brands in terms of how they can express themselves.”

Stay close to TRBusiness.com for more from Bassam Al Wardi, CEO and Board Director, Bahrain Duty Free and images of the new stores.