BAHRAIN. American casual dining brand TGI Fridays has opened its first Middle East airport outlet at Bahrain International. The unit is managed by SSP Bahrain, a joint venture between SSP Group, Buhindi Group and Gulf Air Group Holding, which operates 17 F&B units at the new Passenger Terminal, which opened in 2021.

Bahrain Airport Company (BAC) Chief Executive Officer Mohamed Yousif Al Binfalah attended the opening ceremony on 1 September alongside other senior airport officials.

Dining diversity: Officially opening TGI Fridays at Bahrain International were (from left to right) Bahrain Airport Company VP Airport Operations Ahmed Janahi, Bahrain Airport Company Chief Development & Technical Officer Abdulla Janahi, Bahrain Airport Company CEO Mohamed Yousif Al Binfalah, SSP Bahrain General Manager Tomas De Prat Gay and Bahrain Airport Company VP Non-Aeronautical Revenues George Martin Moore

The restaurant features an open kitchen concept and contemporary décor, with capacity for 118 guests at a time. Alongside a wide selection of signature dishes, TGI Fridays offers a range of beverages and mocktails.

To meet the demand for variety, the F&B channel features a range of local and international brands across 4,500sq m throughout the airport terminal.

BAC said in a statement: “TGI Fridays adds to the diverse food & beverage offerings at Bahrain International, which is the most modern boutique airport in the Gulf.”

Launched in 2021, the Passenger Terminal is four times larger than the previous facility and increases the airport’s capacity to 14 million passengers a year. One of the most ambitious aviation projects of recent years in the Middle East, it houses an array of commercial and consumer services in an eye-catching environment.

*Registration remains open for the Airport Food & Beverage (FAB) Conference, set to take place virtually on 12-13 September. Click here for free registration through our dedicated website.