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Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund-backed King Salman International Airport Development Company (KSIADC) has confirmed the signing up of several architectural and design firms for the various elements of the King Salman International airport in Riyadh.

In an official statement released by the Saudi Press Agency, KSIADC confirmed that it has signed up UK-based Foster + Partners to design the airport’s masterplan, including the terminals, six runways and a multi-asset real estate area.

US-based engineering firm Jacobs will provide specialist consultancy services for the masterplan and the design of the new runways.

The client also confirmed the appointment of UK-based engineering firm Mace for the delivery partner role on the project.

The airspace design consultancy contract was awarded to the local firm Nera. MEED exclusively reported on the appointment of international firms for several components of the project in February.

Earlier this month, MEED reported that KSIADC had invited contractors to submit their statements of qualifications (SoQs) for the contracts to develop various elements of King Salman International airport.

The client plans to prequalify firms for the main engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) packages, early and enabling works, specialist systems and integration, specialist systems, materials and equipment, engineering and design, professional services, health, safety, security, environment and wellbeing, modular installation and prefabrication, local content and environmental, social and governance (ESG) and other services. 

The entire scheme is divided into eight assets. These include:

• Iconic terminal
• Terminal 6
• Private aviation terminal 
• Central runway and temporary apron
• Hangars
• Landside transport
• Cargo buildings
• Real estate

Project scale

The project covers an area of about 57 square kilometres, allowing for six parallel runways, and will include the existing terminals at King Khalid International airport. It will also include 12 sq km of airport support facilities, residential and recreational facilities, retail outlets and other logistics real estate.

If the project is completed on time in 2030, it will become the world’s largest operating airport in terms of passenger capacity, according to GlobalData.

The airport aims to accommodate up to 120 million passengers by 2030 and 185 million by 2050. The goal for cargo is to process 3.5 million tonnes a year by 2050.

Saudi Arabia plans to invest $100bn in its aviation sector. Riyadh’s Saudi Aviation Strategy, announced by the General Authority of Civil Aviation (Gaca), envisages tripling Saudi Arabia’s annual passenger traffic to 330 million travellers by 2030.

It also aims to increase air cargo traffic to 4.5 million tonnes and raise the country’s total air connections to more than 250 destinations.