Riyadh Air has unveiled its first premium airport lounge, the Hafawa Lounge, at King Khalid International Airport, created in partnership with the multidisciplinary design studio Yabu Pushelberg.
Spanning nearly 2,000
square meters between Terminals 1 and 2, the lounge accommodates around 370
Business Elite and Business Class guests and marks a milestone ahead of
the airlineâs commercial launch.
The Hafawa Lounge is
central to Riyadh Airâs scientifically designed, restorative sensory journey,
intended to help guests reset and recharge before travel.
Rooted in the Saudi
cultural value of âHafawa,â symbolizing warmth and generosity, the space blends
emotional resonance with advanced technology.
Moving beyond
traditional lounge design, the interiors evoke a residential, immersive
environment that balances monumentality with intimacy.
Inspired by the Saudi
desert landscape, the design explores contrastsâgrounded yet ethereal, tactile
yet high-techâusing a refined palette of limestone, oak, and textured plaster
to create a calming atmosphere.
Lighting plays a
pivotal role, with a circadian system that shifts from warm dawn tones to
cooler midday hues and back to warmth at dusk, mirroring natural desert
rhythms.
Subtle accents of peach, lavender, and indigo reference the airlineâs brand identity while enhancing comfort and spatial orientation.
âThe Hafawa Lounge reflects our belief that design and technology play an
important role in shaping the guest experience â elements which are part of
every step of the guestâs journey with Riyadh Air,â said Mody Alkhalaf,
Director of Guest Experience at Riyadh Air. âWorking with Yabu Pushelberg
allowed us to bring together the traditional warmth of Saudi hospitality with
contemporary, future-forward design to offer a space that supports comfort,
emotional wellbeing, and generosity throughout the journey. Representing the
sense of âhafawaâ or hospitality, this is a special space that relaxes, refuels
and reenergizes guests before their travel with Riyadh Air.â -TradeArabia News Service
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