Officials and dignitaries at the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Passengers travelling through Hamad International Airport (HIA) are expected to benefit from the “transformative technologies” and other services offered at the Samsung Experience Store (SES), which opened recently at HIA.
Customers can now benefit from a premium retail experience and have access to Samsung’s latest offerings in mobile, cameras and tablets as they prepare for their next destination, according to a statement.
Samsung Gulf Electronics partnered with Qatar Duty Free (QDF) to open the store. After three months of operation, the store has been performing strongly and has already contributed a 30% growth to mobile sales at QDF, the statement notes. The store also offers repairs and software upgrades to travellers moving through the airport.
The facility has been designed to reflect Qatar’s new wave of modern development and will feature 40,000sqm of retail space.
The Samsung Experience Store at HIA is located within the electronic retail section.
Hayssam Yassine, head of the IM division at Samsung Gulf Electronics, said: “We are delighted that Hamad International Airport is the very first international airport to house a Samsung Experience Store.”
Keith Hunter, senior vice-president at QDF, added: “The opening of the new Samsung Experience Store at Hamad International Airport is an exciting development for Qatar Duty Free. This is an original and dynamic concept that we are proud to introduce to our customers shopping at the airport. “This innovative store appeals to those who wish to experience world-class technology in a highly-interactive retail environment.”
More than just an electronics store, the Samsung Experience Store is a cultural and experiential hub where customers can capture and print photographs of Qatar’s landmarks in the “Galaxy Studio”.
Meanwhile, an experience table in the electronic retail zone enables customers to try Samsung’s latest range of cameras, tablets and mobiles. The store also supports light product repairs, including cosmetic parts replacement, consultations, software upgrades and data transfers.