Kuwait setting new standards with unique Airport Mall

Kuwait's Airport Mall, the Middle East's first integrated airport mall, connects landside Arrivals and Departures areas and is spread across two levels covering a total area of 10,000 sq.metres. It offers visitors a range of round-the-clock services including Kuwait's only 24-hour full service bank branch and telecom services shop, as well as restaurants, shops and cafes.

Since becoming fully operational after a four-year phased expansion of Kuwait International Airport, the Airport Mall has become a popular destination for Kuwaiti residents who visit its facilities at all times of the day and night alongside departing and arriving passengers.

This has made the Airport Mall an attractive local amenity within the context of Kuwait's fast-developing infrastructure, as well as being part of a increasingly sophisticated airport international gateway, said Baida Al Ayyar, Business Development manager of United Projects Company (UPC), which planned and developed the expansion of Kuwait International Airport under a Build, Operate, Transfer (BOT) programme with Kuwait's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). UPC now operates and manages the Airport Mall and the airport's extended car parking areas.

Ms. Al Ayyar presented an overview of UPC's Kuwait Airport development programme and the Airport Mall during the opening day of the 2nd Middle East Airports Conference, held in Bahrain, as part of a presentation by Kuwait's DGCA.

She said UPC, a subsidiary of Kuwait Projects Company (KIPCO), had developed the Airport Mall as a central component of the four-year BOT programme, which also incorporated expansions of long-term and short-term multi-level car parks, increased check-in areas and a new baggage handling system, all designed to streamline the passenger journey through the airport.

UPC's airport development is one of a number of major Kuwait infrastructure projects undertaken by KIPCO companies, which includes the prestigious coastline Marina World retail, hotel and leisure complex by United Real Estate (URC), an associate of KIPCO's investment banking subsidiary United Gulf Bank.

Ms. Al Ayyar said the Airport Mall now had a total of 185 tenants with a tenancy mix of retail outlets, restaurants and cafes, as well as airline offices and travel services such as hotels and car rental companies. Renowned international brand names have retail outlets at the Airport Mall, including Debenhams, Starbucks and Harley-Davidson Motorcycles, she said.

She also outlined future UPC Kuwait Airport projects: a prestige landside hotel which will be an integrated part of the airport complex; and a new terminal dedicated to business travellers and VIP visitors with facilities to handle business jets, and self-contained passenger suites and business meeting rooms.

KIPCO is Kuwait's largest private sector company with more than US$10 billion under management or control and a portfolio of some 70 companies with major activities in financial services, media & telecommunications, real estate, industry, management, medical services and aviation throughout the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.