Lagardère Travel Retail has been named duty free and retail master concessionaire at Prince Mohammed Bin Abdul Aziz International Airport, Madinah, in Saudi Arabia, becoming the only duty free operator across the country’s four main international airports.  

 

Lagardère will operate as the lead partner in a joint-venture company, Saudi French Company for Duty Free Operations and Management, operating 14 stores at the airport from December 2022.

 

The new outlets will cover a total commercial surface of 1,900sq m, including 614sq m dedicated to duty free stores.

 

Branded Aelia Duty Free and Relay, the stores will feature all core duty free categories, travel accessories, souvenirs and snacking.

 

Further developments at the airport will also present Lagardère Travel Retail with an opportunity to create new bespoke concepts to continuously meet and exceed the needs of passengers at the airport.

 

Under this new partnership, Lagardère Travel Retail will work closely with the Kingdom’s airport authorities to contribute to the promotion and growth of travel & tourism sectors as part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.

 

Commenting on this announcement, Vincent Romet, CEO Lagardère Travel Retail France & Luxembourg and COO Middle East & KSA 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.”