Madinah, Saudi Arabia – 7 October 2026: Knowledge Economic City (KEC), a leading master developer, listed on the Saudi Exchange (Tadawul), regulated by the Economic Cities and Special Zones Authority (ECZA), and a key contributor to the urban and economic transformation of Madinah, has partnered with global hospitality agency TGP International to develop a new Food Hall at Multaqa AlMadinah Mall. The Food Hall will bring together a curated mix of local, regional and international restaurants and concepts, introducing a new social space for residents and visitors to meet and enjoy diverse experiences throughout the day. The agreement was signed at Retail Congress MENA 2026 (RECON) in Dubai, where KEC participated as a Platinum Sponsor.
Multaqa AlMadinah sits at the heart of Knowledge Economic City, a 6.8 million sqm city-scale destination. The wider KEC masterplan brings together residential, hospitality, retail, education and recreational uses, creating an integrated ecosystem around Multaqa AlMadinah.
KEC’s growing hospitality pipeline is expected to support year-round demand across retail, dining and entertainment, with more than 10,000 hospitality keys targeted by 2029 and approximately 42,000 keys envisioned at full development.
As this hospitality growth continues across Madinah, Multaqa AlMadinah’s role is reinforced as one of the primary destinations serving the aspirations of residents, visitors and pilgrims.
Positioned at the heart of Multaqa AlMadinah, the Food Hall is being developed as a major F&B and social dining destination, bringing together a curated mix of local, regional and international dining concepts within a contemporary environment.
The Food Hall is designed to broaden the visitor experience in Madinah, creating a social dining environment that responds to the city’s growing appeal as a destination for residents, visitors and pilgrims, while providing more reasons to gather, stay and return throughout the day and evening.
TGP International has been appointed to lead the development and operations of the Food Hall. The partnership was formalised by Abdulrahman Zolaly, Mall Manager at KEC, and Ryan Waddell, Head of Operations at TGP International, marking the next stage in the development of the destination.
TGP’s scope spans F&B strategy and master planning, concept development, interior design, brand and operator curation, operational planning and ongoing operations management. Working closely with KEC, TGP will help establish the Food Hall as a distinctive dining destination and an important footfall and experience anchor within Multaqa AlMadinah.
TGP International is renowned for developing and delivering award-winning food hall concepts and major hospitality destinations across the Middle East. Its regional portfolio includes Al Mamlaka Social Dining in Riyadh, multiple food hall projects across Saudi Arabia, and major F&B strategy and master planning assignments throughout the Kingdom. The agency is also delivering Msheireb Food Hall in Doha from concept through to operations, further demonstrating its experience in creating and managing distinctive, commercially focused F&B destinations across the region.
Dr Moath Al-Yahya, CEO of Knowledge Economic City, said: “The Food Hall is an important addition to the experience we are creating at Multaqa AlMadinah. Our ambition is to build a destination that goes beyond traditional retail by bringing together dining, hospitality, leisure and social experiences that respond to the needs of both Madinah’s residents and its visitors.
“TGP brings strong regional and international expertise in creating successful food-led destinations, and this partnership will help us deliver a distinctive F&B proposition that strengthens Multaqa AlMadinah’s position as a place to meet, dine and spend time.”
Simon Wright, Founder & Chairman of TGP International, said: “Multaqa AlMadinah is being developed as a major integrated destination, bringing together hospitality, retail, residential and recreational experiences. The Food Hall has an important role to play within this wider ecosystem by creating a distinctive social and culinary anchor at its heart.
“Working with KEC, our focus is to develop a destination that complements the ambition of the wider masterplan, showcases a compelling mix of local, regional and international concepts, and encourages residents and visitors to gather, explore and return throughout the day and evening.”
Knowledge Economic City (KEC) is a publicly listed joint-stock company on the Saudi Exchange (Tadawul), operating under the regulation of the Economic Cities and Special Zones Authority (ECZA). With a masterplan spanning 6.8 million square meters within the sacred boundaries of Madinah, KEC is developing fully integrated modern destinations that bring together residential, commercial, cultural and leisure components, contributing to Madinah’s evolution as a world-class lifestyle destination.
Strategically located near the Prophet’s Mosque, the Haramain High-Speed Rail station and Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport, KEC plays an important role in supporting the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, aligning with key programs including the Pilgrim Experience Program, Quality of Life Program, Housing Program and Human Capability Development Program.
TGP International is a global 360° hospitality agency specialising in the creation of world-class consumer experiences, innovative food retail destinations, and distinguished F&B brands. The company offers comprehensive services across F&B masterplanning, market research, concept development, interior design, operations and asset management, franchising and licensing, and strategic marketing.
With an award-winning team of designers, brand strategists, and industry experts, TGP International has delivered some of the region’s most transformative food hall projects. The company is dedicated to harnessing the power of clustered F&B to shape vibrant, socially connected, and commercially sustainable urban communities.
Founded in London in 2002, TGP International brings over 22 years of experience at the forefront of the hospitality sector. With a portfolio spanning more than 700 projects across 15+ countries and a team boasting over 300 years of collective expertise, the company has collaborated with leading names in hospitality, real estate, and development worldwide.