Travelex has partnered with Heathrow to launch VAT Refund by Appointment, a new service for customers reclaiming their tax when leaving the UK. Customers flying from Heathrow Terminal 5 can now book private refund appointments for a fast, efficient service at a time convenient to them.
John Rayment, UK commercial director for Travelex explains: “Tax-free shopping is one of the great benefits of coming to the UK. But we recognize that our customer’s time is precious. This new, exclusive experience will ensure customers can complete their VAT refund in a relaxed environment, safe in the knowledge that their refund will be completed in a timely fashion.”
The appointment service offers: Private, one-to-one consultations at a screened desk within VAT, no waiting time as all appointments at a fixed time are arranged in advance, meet-and-greet welcome at the door, help with form filling (if needed), English, Arabic and Chinese-speaking hosts (subject to availability), and personal reminder by phone 24 hours before your appointment (where possible).
An appointment can be made at any time. Bookings are made online in advance at www.travelex.co.uk/vat-refund-by-appointment.
Chris Annetts, Heathrow’s retail and service proposition director said: “We are pleased to partner with Travelex to bring passengers this enhanced facility, the first of its kind in the UK. This private service will provide our customers with greater choice and personalized support with their VAT returns, giving them more time to enjoy their journey.”
In the UK, VAT is charged on many goods and services. The Retail Export Scheme allows non-EU residents, who are leaving the EU, to claim a VAT refund on most goods that they have purchased in the UK.
Heathrow and Travelex launch new appointment service for VAT refunds
Heathrow and Travelex launch new appointment service for VAT refunds
Aramco Digital to launch National Industrial Network on 450 MHz band
Aramco Digital, the digital and technology arm of Aramco, is preparing to launch its National Industrial Network operating on the 450 MHz spectrum, a network designed to enable secure, resilient, and high-reliability industrial communications across Saudi Arabia. The network has been engineered as a mission-critical industrial infrastructure to deliver high levels of security, flexibility, and reliability to meet the needs of industrial sectors. It provides wide-area coverage with advanced protection standards, supporting operational environments that require continuous performance and dependable connectivity for critical facilities and assets.
“The National Industrial Network has been designed to support the advanced operational requirements of modern industrial environments, aimed at enhancing efficiency, strengthening business continuity, and enabling a new class of highly reliable industrial communications. Together with next-generation mission-critical smart radios, the network aims to help build a future-ready industrial infrastructure that enables real-time data insights, supports industrial digital transformation, and aligns with the ambitions of Saudi Vision 2030,” said Nabil Al-Nuaim, Aramco Digital CEO.
Unlike public networks, the National Industrial Network has been purpose-built for industrial environments, enabling connectivity for critical assets, supply chains, logistics operations, and autonomous mobility systems. The network seeks to elevate smart industrial services, supporting real-time monitoring, automation, enhanced safety, and higher operational efficiency across industrial sectors.
As part of the launch, Aramco Digital plans to introduce an integrated portfolio of industrial digital solutions powered by the 450 MHz network. These include specialized connectivity packages tailored to diverse sector needs, along with a new generation of mission-critical smart radios designed specifically for industrial operations. The devices combine rugged high-performance design and industrial safety compliance with advanced artificial intelligence capabilities, enhanced sensing technologies, extended battery life, and real-time on-device data processing, helping improve accuracy, safety, and operational continuity in complex environments.
The network has also been designed to support a wide spectrum of industrial IoT applications, including asset condition and performance monitoring, fleet tracking, air-quality and environmental sensing, intelligent video monitoring, smart metering, lighting and infrastructure control, as well as mobility and fleet-management solutions. These capabilities enhance operational transparency, automation, and efficiency across both industrial and public sectors.
The National Industrial Network aims to help establish a strong technological foundation for Saudi Arabia’s next industrial phase, contributing to the objectives of Vision 2030 by delivering highly reliable, nationwide industrial connectivity that enables automation, intelligence, and advanced digital services across vital sectors. By developing connectivity solutions aligned with the needs of modern industrial operations, Aramco Digital is helping shape the future of mission-critical digital infrastructure in the Kingdom, moving beyond traditional telecommunications to enable continuous interaction between devices, machines, and AI-powered systems, and strengthening real-time decision-making through edge processing.
The 450 MHz National Industrial Network represents more than an improvement in coverage or performance. It is a strategic step toward smarter, more autonomous, and technology-driven industrial ecosystems that enhance operational excellence and set a new benchmark for advanced digital infrastructure in Saudi Arabia.
With the accelerating pace of digital transformation in the Kingdom, secure and reliable connectivity has become a fundamental pillar in supporting operational requirements and driving economic growth. Organizations across various sectors— including industrial sectors and those enabling future economies — are increasingly relying on advanced connectivity solutions and technologies to enhance safety and reliability, improve operational efficiency, and unlock new horizons for sustainable economic development.
