SAUDI ARABIA. His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz today announced the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund’s masterplan for a vastly expanded capital airport in Riyadh, to be known as King Salman International Airport. The aim is to accommodate up to 120 million annual passengers by 2030 and 185 million by 2050.
The announcement came via the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), which revealed that King Salman Airport is expected to become one of the world’s largest airports, covering an area of approximately 57sq km. It will host six parallel runways and include all of the existing terminals named after King Khalid.
The highly-ambitious plan is set to boost Riyadh’s position as a global logistics hub and act as a major stimulus to transport investment, trade and tourism.
The airport project is in line with Saudi Arabia’s vision to help Riyadh become one of the top ten city economies in the world. It will also support the growth of Riyadh’s population from the current 7.6 million to a projected 15-20 million people by 2030.
The expanded airport will include 12sq km of airport support facilities, residential and recreational facilities, retail outlets, and other logistics real estate. It will have the capacity to process 3.5 million tons of cargo annually by 2050.
According to the SPA, King Salman Airport will become an “aerotropolis centred around a seamless customer journey, world-class efficient operations, and innovation”.
The agency also noted that the airport design will consider Riyadh’s identity and the Saudi culture “to ensure a unique travel experience for visitors and transit travellers”.
With sustainability at its core, the new airport will achieve LEED Platinum certification by incorporating cutting edge green initiatives into its design. It will also be powered by renewable energy.
The announcement comes as part of PIF’s strategy which focuses on unlocking the capabilities of promising sectors to enhance Saudi Arabia’s efforts in diversifying its economy.
The new airport is expected to contribute 27 billion Saudi riyals (US$7.18 billion) annually to non-oil GDP and to create 103,000 direct and indirect jobs, in line with Saudi Arabia Vision 2030 objectives.
