SAUDI ARABIA. In a landmark partnership, Hilton, Al Musbah Group and Damman Airports Company will develop Saudi Arabia’s first internationally-branded airport hotel at King Fahd International Airport in Damman.
The 273-key Hilton Dammam Airport will provide premium and contemporary accommodation with direct skywalk access to the terminal building at the airport, which serves approximately 10 million passengers annually.
The facility will feature an all-day dining restaurant complete with an outdoor terrace, a café, an outdoor pool with adjacent café and fitness centres. State-of-the-art meeting facilities for business travellers will also be available, including several meeting rooms and an executive lounge that caters for up to 90 people.
King Fahd International Airport serves as a hub for Saudia Airlines, Aramco Aviation and FlyNas, with flights to over 70 international destinations by over 50 airlines.
Dammam Airports Company CEO Mohammed Al Hassani said: “We are delighted to work with our partners Al Musbah Group and Hilton to develop this new Hilton hotel at the busy King Fahd International Airport in Dammam. We are confident the Al Musbah Group and Hilton partnership will be a great, long-term success.”
Al Musbah Group Director Mohammed Almusbahi said: “We are delighted to partner with Hilton to open Hilton Dammam Airport. The modern, upscale property will serve passengers and crew passing through the busy King Fahd International Airport, as well as business and leisure travellers visiting the surrounding areas.
“The opening of the hotel also broadens our partnership of over 25 years at King Fahd International Airport, where we have lead concessions for travel retail, parking operations and technology, and food and beverage.”
Commenting on Hilton’s investments in Saudi Arabia, Vice President Development, Middle East & Africa Carlos Khneisser said: “Saudi Arabia’s rapid evolution continues to provide exciting growth opportunities for Hilton, and we’re working with our owners to introduce more award-winning hospitality brands in locations throughout the country.
“This signing is another example of Hilton’s commitment to supporting the tourism industry in Saudi Arabia and to enabling growth in key destinations as well as up-and-coming, large-scale developments and secondary cities. Hilton has pioneered the airport hotel concept and we are thrilled to announce that this will be Hilton’s first airport hotel in the country.”
Hilton currently operates 16 hotels across Saudi Arabia with plans to open over 50 new hotels across ten of its brands. This makes the Kingdom the company’s largest pipeline market in the EMEA region.
Projects include the introduction of new brands such as LXR Hotels & Resorts, Canopy by Hilton, Embassy Suites by Hilton and Hampton by Hilton. The company said it plans to grow its portfolio to more than 75 properties in the Kingdom over the coming years. 
Read our recent Al Musbah Group interview, in which Business Development Director Andrew Perrier reveals the company’s travel retail ambitions here.
