Riyadh Air opens first premium airport lounge in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia’s new national carrier Riyadh Air has opened its first premium airport lounge ahead of its commercial launch in April 2026, debuting the Hafawa Lounge at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh as part of its soft-launch phase.

Located between Terminals 1 and 2, the lounge can accommodate up to 370 passengers and is reserved for Business Elite and Business Class travellers, as well as top-tier frequent flyers. Eligible guests can also access a complimentary Blacklane chauffeur service for journeys within 50km of King Khalid airport. 

Designed around the Saudi hospitality concept of ‘Hafawa’, which embodies generosity and care for guests, the 2,000-square-metre lounge has been created in collaboration with multidisciplinary studio Yabu Pushelberg and departs from conventional airline lounge design, with a residential-inspired, immersive layout.

Rather than a single open-plan space, it is composed like a home with distinct but connected rooms, designed to support the “emotional side of travel”, with each room offering its own purpose, from relaxation and socialising to digital immersion and private family time.