Saudi Arabia unveiled plans for a new airport in Riyadh, hoping to advance the country’s ambitious aviation goals while fostering the city’s rapid growth.
According to the official Saudi Press Agency, the airport, which is expected to serve 120 million travellers by 2030 and 185 million by 2050, will be named after the 86-year-old King Salman. Its announcement was made by the de facto ruler’s son, 37-year-old Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The airport project, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), “is in line with Saudi Arabia’s vision to transform Riyadh to be among the top ten city economies in the world and to support the growth of Riyadh’s population to 15-20 million people by 2030.”
Less than eight million people currently live in the city.
Saudi Arabia wants to more than triple its annual traffic to 330 million passengers by the end of the decade as part of Prince Mohammed’s extensive “Vision 2030” reforms.
Additionally, it hopes to establish a new national flag carrier, bring in $100 billion in investments, and transport up to five million tonnes of cargo annually by the year 2030.
By 2050, the new airport is anticipated to be able to handle 3.5 million tonnes of cargo, according to SPA.
According to SPA, it “will strengthen Riyadh’s position as a major international logistics hub, promote travel, trade, and tourism, and serve as a bridge connecting the East and the West.”
The project’s cost was not disclosed in the announcement, despite the fact that it was intended to cover 57 square kilometers.
Regarding the green building certification programme, SPA stated, “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 Red Sea coast city of Jeddah, which bills itself as the “Gateway to Mecca” for millions of Muslims making the hajj and umrah pilgrimages, is currently home to the kingdom’s busiest international airport.
However, in recent years, officials have sought to position Riyadh, in the centre of Saudi Arabia, as a rival to Dubai, the commercial centre of the United Arab Emirates.
