As the airline prepares for its first commercial flights, Saudi Arabia’s new national carrier Riyadh Air has officially opened its first premium airport lounge — the Hafawa Lounge. Located between Terminals 1 and 2 at King Khalid International Airport, the 2,000-square-metre space, designed to host up to 370 guests, represents a new era in luxury air travel, where Saudi coffee, immersive technology, and desert-inspired design come together to elevate the pre-flight experience.

Derived from the Arabic word symbolizing generosity and warmth, Hafawa perfectly captures Riyadh Air’s ethos of delivering a world-class, culturally grounded guest experience. Exclusively open to Business Elite and Business Class travellers, the lounge offers multiple curated zones for relaxation, social interaction, dining, and digital immersion — each one designed to reflect the rhythm and richness of Saudi hospitality.

Conceived by the award-winning global studio Yabu Pushelberg, the lounge draws from Saudi Arabia’s natural landscapes, where the desert horizon blurs earth and sky. The material palette — limestone, oak, bronze, and textured plaster — creates a calm, tactile atmosphere that pays tribute to the Kingdom’s terrain. Wind-shaped forms evoke movement and possibility, while garden views and soft lighting foster serenity. The result is a space that feels both monumental and intimate — a setting where travellers can rest, recharge, and reconnect before takeoff.

Technology flows quietly throughout the space — from barrier-free design and digital wayfinding to interactive touchpoints that personalise each guest’s experience. Every detail — scent, sound, texture, and taste — has been intentionally curated to balance innovation with a human touch. For Riyadh Air, the Hafawa Lounge is more than an airport amenity; it’s a statement of intent — a reflection of Saudi Arabia’s ambition to set global standards in hospitality and design as part of Vision 2030.