The Deputy Governor of Makkah Region, Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz, inaugurated today the new e-gates system at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah. The system includes 70 e-gates designed to enhance travel efficiency by automating check-in and departure procedures, providing a smoother and more convenient airport experience for travelers.
The new e-gates system leverages modern technologies and AI to facilitate faster and more secure passenger processing. The e-gates are distributed across Terminal No. 1 and the Executive Office facilities at King Abdulaziz International Airport.
E-gates boost airport capacity to 175,000 travelers per day
Each gate is capable of handling up to 2,500 passengers, significantly boosting the airport’s capacity and enabling it to serve up to 175,000 travelers per day.
King Abdulaziz International Airport is the third in Saudi Arabia to implement the e-gate system, following its successful deployment at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and Neom Bay Airport. Last year, Saudi Arabia inaugurated the first phase of e-gates at terminals 3 and 4 of King Khalid International Airport. This initiative established Riyadh airport as the first airport in Saudi Arabia to implement biometric e-passport scanners.
The expansion of this advanced system aligns with the Kingdom’s commitment to enhancing airport efficiency, passenger convenience, and technological innovation.
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Saudi Arabia welcomes over 128 million travelers in 2024
The implementation of e-gates at King Abdulaziz International Airport aligns with the goals of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 which seeks to achieve a long-term goal of 150 million annual visitors by 2030.
In 2023, the Kingdom welcomed 109 million tourists. This number witnessed a major increase last year when over 128 million travelers passed through various airports across the Kingdom. A recent report by Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) also revealed that the number of flights across Saudi airports increased by 11 percent compared to 2023, recording 905,000 flights, 474,000 of which are domestic and 431,000 are international.
Air connectivity also surged last year, recording a 16 percent increase, with Saudi Arabia now linked to over 170 destinations worldwide.
The four main airports in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Madinah accounted for 82 percent of the total air traffic. During the recent Hajj season, which extended from May 9 to July 21, air traffic recorded a notable increase, with 1.5 million pilgrims arriving in the Kingdom, representing 40 percent of total international travelers during that period.
