Lagardère Travel Retail launches new operations at Madinah and Tabuk airports

Lagardère Travel Retail has launched new duty free and dining operations at two key airports in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International in Tabuk and Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International in Madinah.

This expansion of operations in Saudi Arabia is said to reinforce the company’s commitment to delivering world-class travel experiences and supporting the country's ambitious Vision 2030 investment program.

It marks a significant step in Lagardère Travel Retail's rapid expansion across the country, with a footprint growing from 3 airports in 2024 to 10 in 2025, and the number of stores more than doubling from 21 to 44.

The brand-new Aelia Duty Free store at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk was inaugurated in July, marking a key milestone in our expansion across Saudi Arabia’s regional hubs. This is the first-ever duty free store in Tabuk — and in any of the five newly awarded airports — confirming Lagardère Travel Retail’s role as a pioneer and trusted partner. It is also the company’s third opening in Cluster 2 airports, following Taif and Qassim, with Hail and Abha set to follow shortly.

As the main airport in northern Saudi Arabia and a growing gateway to NEOM, Tabuk plays a strategic role in Lagardère Travel Retail’s development in the Kingdom. The company also plans to open a duty free logistics center there — a first for a regional airport.

The store was officially inaugurated by Saad A. Alajlan, General Manager, Commercial Operations and Business Development at Cluster 2.

Lagardère Travel Retail also opened new stores in July at Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah, where the company already holds a master concession for retail spaces. The total of seven openings include a new 120-square-meter Madinah Duty Free store located in the international arrivals area, as well as two dining outlets in international departures — So! Coffee and Trib’s — each covering 30 square meters.

Local entrepreneurship is also to the fore, with the integration of innovative local brands such as Eyewa, a Saudi eyewear hero, and Mint City, a tribute to Madinah’s heritage as a center of mint production.

As part of its broader role, Lagardère Travel Retail plays an active part in sourcing and subleasing retail spaces, helping to ensure a diverse and locally relevant commercial offer.

These openings highlight the strong partnership between Lagardère Travel Retail and Tibah Airports and mark the start of a series of projects to transform airport retail and enhance the passenger experience.

Mélanie Guilldou, CEO, Lagardère Travel Retail Saudi Arabia, commented: “We’re especially proud of the strong and trusting partnership we’ve built with Tibah Airports and Cluster 2. These successful openings mark just the beginning of a long-term collaboration, supported by a multi-year contract and a strong pipeline of upcoming projects. As we accelerate our expansion between 2024 and 2025, nearly doubling our footprint in the Kingdom, we’re fully committed to supporting the transformation of airport retail across Saudi Arabia.

“Being present in key and growing cities throughout the country is both a strategic opportunity and a meaningful responsibility. These regional airports each come with their own dynamics and challenges, but we approach them with agility, strong local ties, and a deep respect for each region’s identity. Together, we’re fully aligned with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and Tibah’s ambition to enhance the passenger experience — especially as Madinah Airport prepares to welcome 17.5 million travelers by 2027. We’re honored to play a part in shaping the future of travel retail in the Kingdom, by delivering world-class concepts that also celebrate local culture.”

Saad A. Alajlan, General Manager, Commercial Operations and Business Development at Cluster 2, said: “These openings reflect the strong momentum we’re building across our airports, as we work to enhance commercial offerings and passenger services in a fast-evolving travel landscape. Partnering with Lagardère Travel Retail enables us to bring in innovative, high-quality concepts that respond to the expectations of today’s travelers while supporting regional growth.

“We’re pleased to see this collaboration taking shape and look forward to its continued development in line with the ambitions of Vision2030.”

Lagardère Travel Retail said it is pleased to “actively contribute to the Kingdom’s dynamic transformation of the travel retail sector through its unique concepts and experiences, in a rapidly evolving market that offers significant opportunities for growth and innovation.”