King Salman International Airport masterplan for Riyadh announced by Crown Prince

Saudi Arabia is set to build one of the world’s largest airports in what will be a huge boost to the Kingdom’s ambition to become a global hub for trade and tourism, according to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

King Salman International Airport, located in Riyadh, will have six parallel runways, and is expected to contribute SR27 billion ($7.18 billion) annually to Saudi Arabia’s non-oil gross domestic product. The airport will help drive annual passenger traffic in Saudi Araand bia from the current 29 million to 120 million travelers by 2030, and 185 million by 2050, with aircraft traffic in the Kingdom increasing from 211,000 to more than 1 million flights per year.

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, according to the Saudi Press Agency. The development will include the existing terminals named after King Khalid, with the capacity to process 3.5 million tons of cargo by 2050.

Riyadh’s identity and Saudi culture will be taken into consideration in the airport’s design to ensure a unique travel experience for visitors and transit travelers.

The new airport is expected to create 103,000 jobs in line with Saudi Vision 2030 objectives.

The announcement comes as part of the Public Investment Fund’s strategy focusing on unlocking the capabilities of promising sectors to enhance Saudi Arabia’s efforts in diversifying the economy.

It is also in line with the National Transport Strategy and the Global Supply Chain Resilience Initiative,

Saudi Arabia’s vision to transform Riyadh into one of the top 10 city economies in the world, supporting the growth of its population to 15–20 million people by 2030.