Daa eyes expansion in Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East

With expansion at home stalled, the Irish airport authority sees more scope overseas, even in politically contentious areas

King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia is operated by Ireland's Daa. It accommodated 42.7 million passengers last year. Picture: iStock

With the expansion of Dublin Airport being up in the air as it awaits a planning decision, the airport’s operator, Daa, is looking to grow its international operations, particularly in the controversial kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Daa’s international arm encompasses a number of areas: It manages several international airports, provides advisory services, and operates duty-free shops in 27 airports.