Saudi Arabia’s King Salman International Airport is set for a new phase of development which will transform it into a hub for tourism, travel, and transportation in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and the wider region.
The King Salman International Airport Development Company (KSIADC), one of the Public Investment Fund’s (PIF) companies, recently announced signing strategic partnership contracts with four leading local and international companies in the fields of architecture, engineering, construction, and air traffic management for the new development phase of the airport.
Airport’s master plan to cover 57 square kilometers
The award-winning architecture firm Foster + Partners will design King Salman International Airport’s master plan which covers a total area of 57 square kilometers. The new master plan includes several terminals, six runways, and a multi-asset real estate area.
Meanwhile, the international engineering firm Jacobs will provide specialist consultancy services for the airport’s master plan and the design of the new runways.
In addition, the leading consulting and construction company Mace will apply global best practices, innovations, and cutting-edge methodologies in all stages of planning and construction.
Enhanced air traffic efficiency
Nera, a Saudi leader in technical and operational solutions for aviation, will oversee the design of King Salman International Airport’s airspace to enhance air traffic efficiency and improve operations using the latest technologies.
“These four firms will work alongside the Saudi and international talent we have brought together, they will be an essential addition to our team as we build King Salman International Airport, creating a new passenger experience,” stated Mr. Marco Mejia, acting CEO of KSIADC.
Seamless and enjoyable travel
Partnering with these world-class companies is a crucial step in transforming King Salman International Airport into an exceptional destination offering travellers a seamless and enjoyable experience.
Notably, H.R.H Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Chairman of the Board of Directors of KSIADC unveiled the airport’s master plan in November 2022.
This plan aims to transform the airport into one of the world’s largest facilities which seeks to handle up to 120 million travelers by 2030 and 185 million by 2050. In addition, it aims to reach a cargo capacity of 3.5 million tons.
“It will provide the national and international connectivity the city of Riyadh needs to meet and drive the business, trade, and tourism growth set out in Vision 2030,” added Mejia.
The King Salman International Airport project also falls in line with Saudi Arabia’s vision to transform Riyadh to be among the top ten city economies in the world. Moreover, it aims to support the growth of Riyadh’s population to 15–20 million people by 2030.
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Airport to boost Saudi Arabia’s non-oil GDP
In a previous statement, the PIF said: “With sustainability at its core, the new airport will achieve LEED Platinum certification by incorporating cutting-edge green initiatives into its design and will be powered by renewable energy.”
The King Salman International Airport transformation is also part of PIF’s strategy which focuses on unlocking the capabilities of promising sectors to enhance Saudi Arabia’s efforts in diversifying the economy. In addition, it aligns with the National Transport Strategy and the Global Supply Chain Resilience Initiative.
The PIF also expects the new airport to contribute SAR27 billion ($7.20 billion) annually to the non-oil GDP and create 103,000 direct and indirect jobs, in line with Vision 2030 objectives.
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