Concessionaire SSP has been contracted to open three food and beverage (F&B) units and a new food court in the unfinished Midfield Terminal Building at Abu Dhabi International Airport in the UAE.
The deal has been valued at approximately US$400m and will run for between five and 10 years, depending on the unit. It will introduce a total of 17 brands to the new facility, including a blend of local and international names as well as themed, bespoke, and uniquely designed concepts.
Each unit has been designed to fit the overall environment of the new facility, as has the Food Park food court, which has been inspired by Abu Dhabi’s Umm Al Emarat (Mushrif Central Park), one of the oldest and largest urban parks in the city. SSP will announce the full brand line-up at a later date.
Mohamed Mubarak Al Mazrouei, CEO of Abu Dhabi Airports, the airport operator, said, “The F&B offering at the Midfield Terminal Building will challenge the very perception of F&B retailing in an airport environment thus far and will set the benchmark for dining concepts moving forward. Bearing in mind the wide demographic that we will be catering to, we are thrilled with the pioneering, avant-garde approaches that we have been able to gather together under one roof.”
Nick Inkster, CEO, SSP Western Europe, Middle East, Asia Pacific (WEMEAP), said, “We always aim to exceed passengers’ expectations and we thrive on being a part of the ever-changing culinary scene, adapting our offer to shifting tastes and trends. Having had the privilege of being a significant F&B provider at Abu Dhabi International Airport for nearly a decade, we are delighted to be building on this important partnership. This deal will also pave the way for further development of our business in the wider Middle East region.”
