Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, October 2025 – ALTANFEETHI, the premier hospitality and executive lounge services company operating across Saudi Arabia’s airports, has announced the appointment of Meshal Abdulkarim as Senior Head of People Services. In this leadership role, Meshal will oversee all aspects of people operations, including employee experience, organizational development, and HR service excellence, aligning human capital strategies with ALTANFEETHI’s continued expansion and world-class service vision.
With over 15 years of diverse HR and operational leadership experience, Meshal Abdulkarim brings an extensive track record of developing people-centric systems across government, private, and multinational organizations in Saudi Arabia.
Before joining ALTANFEETHI, Meshal served as Employee Relations Manager at Remat Al-Riyadh Development Company, a government entity dedicated to enhancing municipal services and improving quality of life in Riyadh. In this role, he led multiple HR transformation initiatives, including policy modernization, GOSI and Qiwa system management, and employee engagement programs, while ensuring strict compliance with Saudi labor laws and public-sector governance standards.
Prior to that, Meshal was Employee Relations Team Leader at both the National Events Center and the Ministry of Culture, where he played a pivotal role in large-scale workforce transformations. At the Ministry of Culture, he co-led several major national HR projects such as transferring over 1,000 employees from outsourced companies, implementing SAP SuccessFactors, and executing the “Competencies and Contractors Program”, impacting more than 1,000 ministry employees and commissions. His leadership in people systems integration helped streamline HR operations across multiple departments and commissions.
Earlier in his career, Meshal honed his HR expertise as HR Operations Manager at VFS Global, managing employee services, payroll, and government relations for the Middle East region, and as Senior Specialist – Employee Services at Samsung Electronics, where he managed key HR operations functions including payroll, compliance, and recruitment.
He began his professional journey with leading organizations such as Panda Retail Company (Savola Group), IKEA, Almarai, and NADEC Foods, gaining hands-on experience across HR, logistics, and retail operations. His early roles built a strong foundation in people management, operational excellence, and employee engagement.
About ALTANFEETHI
ALTANFEETHI, formerly known as “The Executive,” is the exclusive executive lounge services company under the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA). Established in 1979 and rebranded in 2021, ALTANFEETHI manages and operates 27 executive lounges across all major airports in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, serving state dignitaries, VIP travelers, and global visitors with unparalleled luxury and hospitality.
The company’s mission is to deliver world-class travel experiences through exceptional service, cultural excellence, and operational innovation. With its redefined identity and customer-centric approach, ALTANFEETHI continues to represent Saudi Arabia’s commitment to global hospitality standards and Vision 2030 aspirations.
Read Also : When HR “Produces Nothing”: A Response to Jennifer Sey’s Anti-HR Vision
The Fine Balance: Navigating Work, Life, and Mental Wellbeing
Mind the Leadership Gap – From Learning to Real-World Impact
How the Adecco Group is empowering its employees for the future of work
