Saudia Opens Luxe Lounge at London Heathrow With Tea Bar

Saudi Arabian carrier Saudia has opened a new lounge at London Heathrow‘s (LHR) Terminal 4, featuring coffee and dates from the Kingdom and a tea bar to suit its London locale but, as expected, no alcohol.

The space is located on the former site of the SkyTeam Lounge, which offered access to Saudia travelers and closed during the pandemic.

All-New Tea Bar

Long gone are that lounge’s space-age white and orange chairs, replaced by a sophisticated palette of blue and rust, with distinctive tiling. Sculptures and other artwork set off floor-to-ceiling windows with runway views.

Photo: Courtesy of Saudia

The 140-seat space, launched in partnership with airport hospitality company Plaza Premium Group, is divided into a main lounge and an exclusive VIP area, with à la carte dining and a personalized butler service. We’re not quite certain how you get behind that velvet rope, but the main lounge has enough to delight most travelers.

You’ll find workstations with complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi and ample outlets for recharging.

Photo: Courtesy of Saudia

Guests can also retreat to prayer rooms and the quiet zone to refresh. Luxury showers are stocked with products from British fragrance brand Urban Apothecary.

Food includes coffee and dates from the Arabian peninsula and an international buffet, dubbed the Chef’s Daily Table, with a rotating selection of fresh dishes served all day.

Photo: Courtesy of Saudia

Saudia has also collaborated with the London Tea Exchange to create a unique tea bar, allowing guests to sample a selection of “world-class teas.”

However, as on Saudia flights and in the Kingdom itself, you won’t find a traditional bar with wine and spirits. Instead, guests can enjoy mocktails and other non-alcoholic hot and cold beverages.

Photo: Courtesy of Saudia

Rossen Dimitrov, Saudia Chief Guest Experience Officer, said: “The launch of our new lounge at London Heathrow Terminal 4 is a testament to Saudia’s dedication to providing an exceptional travel experience that embodies the essence of Saudi hospitality. We are proud to offer our guests a premium space that combines comfort, luxury, and cultural richness, setting a new benchmark for international travel.”

Kingdom is investing in Saudia

As far as we can tell, this is only Saudia’s second lounge outside of the Kingdom, with the first located in Cairo (CAI). The airline has invested heavily in its passenger experience over the last few years to play its part bringing a targeted 100 million tourists to the Kingdom annually, as envisioned by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS).

Last year, the airline unveiled a new brand identity, with a new retro plane livery, in 2024 and announced its biggest aircraft order yet for 105 fuel-efficient jets from the Airbus A320neo family.

Photo: Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner. Courtesy of Saudia

As MBS transforms the petro-state into a tourist magnet and diversified economy, Saudia will be joined by the new national air, Riyadh Air. The Kingdom intends for Riyadh Air, based out of the capital’s King Khalid International Airport, to become its premier international carrier, serving leisure and business travelers. Meanwhile, Saudia, based in Jeddah, the nearest airport to Mecca and Medina, will cater to pilgrims doing the Hajj and to regional travelers.

Riyadh Air was supposed to get airborne this spring but has been forced to postpone its launch until late 2025 due to delays in aircraft delivery. In the meantime, Saudia remains the Kingdom’s public aviation face, and it’s more eager than ever to impress international tourists, as its London lounge shows.

How to access the lounge

The London Lounge is located across from Gate 10 in Terminal 4 and is open daily between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m.

It’s open to Saudia first and business-class passengers, along with Gold members of the airline’s Alfursan frequent flyer program. The airline operates six daily flights from Heathrow: three to the Saudi capital, Riyadh (RUH), and three to Jeddah (JED).

Photo: Courtesy of Saudia

While the airline targets Saudia passengers, it also welcomes SkyTeam first and business-class travelers and SkyTeam Elite Plus members. SkyTeam partners Air France, China Eastern Airlines, Garuda Indonesia, KLM, and Korean Air all operate flights from the terminal, which doesn’t have much airline lounge provision, especially since the closure of the SkyTeam lounge.