An alliance between Gebr. Heinemann, Jordanian Duty Free Shops and Astra is the preferred bidder for the sought-after duty free concession at Saudi Arabia’s King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA), TRBusiness gathers.

As reported earlier this year, operator Jeddah Airports Company (JEDCO) unleashed a request for proposals for the chance to capture around 11,500sq m of concession space covering core beauty, confectionery, food, tobacco, souvenirs, fashion, accessories and jewellery across Terminal 1 and the North Terminal.

Almost 6,000sq m of retail space is available at T1, plus an additional 4,000sq m walkway area that can be re-designed in part to leverage the total footprint at T1, which opened in 2019 and is the second largest single airport terminal in the world (see image gallery at footer).

Meanwhile, approximately 1,500sq m features at the North Terminal and is available in a walkthrough format.

The duty free contract duration is seven years at T1 and five years (with a possible two-year extension) at North Terminal.

Heinemann declined to comment on the tender, with a spokesperson stating: “As we communicated at the beginning of the year, we are looking at attractive business opportunities around the world and examining each one very carefully to see whether it fits with our growth ambitions on the one hand and our ideas of working in partnership on the other.”

The closing date for submissions was 17 August. JEDCO declined to comment when approached by TRBusiness.

Lagardère Travel Retail is the current incumbent, having won the duty free contract in 2016.

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