Ninety express interest for Taif airport PPP

13 February 2025

Some 90 firms have expressed interest in bidding for a contract to develop and operate a new international airport in Taif in the kingdom’s Mecca province.

Saudi Arabia’s Matarat Holding, through the National Centre for Privatisation & PPP (NCP), invited firms to express interest in bidding for the contract in early December.

The international and local firms that expressed their interest are: 

  • Abdul Ali Al-Ajmi Company (local)
  • Abrdn Investcorp Infrastructure Investments (UK)
  • Aeroporti Di Roma (Italy)
  • Algihaz Holding (local)
  • Al-Jaber Contracting (local)
  • Al-Modon Al-Arabia Company (local)
  • Al-Rashid Trading & Contracting Company (local)
  • Al-Sharif Contracting & Commercial Development (local)
  • Al-Yamama Company for Trading & Contracting (local)
  • Al-Ayuni Investment & Contracting Company (local)
  • Alghanim International General Trading & Contracting (Kuwait)
  • Almabani General Contractors (local)
  • Almansouryah Company General Contracting (local)
  • AlMozaini Real Estate (local)
  • Almutlaq Real Estate Investment Company (local)
  • Alternative Resources Investment 
  • Annasban Group (local)
  • Asyad Holding Company (local)
  • AVIC-KDN Airport Engineering (China)
  • Bangalore International Airport (India)
  • Binladin International (local)
  • Bouygues Batiment (France)
  • CACC International Engineering 
  • China Harbour Engineering Company (China)
  • Surbana Consultants (Singapore)
  • Buna Al-Khaleej Contracting (local)
  • China National Aero-Technology International Engineering Corporation (China)
  • China Railway Construction Corporation (China)
  • Clavrix (US) 
  • Consolidated Contractors Company (Greece)
  • Contrax International (UAE)
  • Corporacion America Airports (Luxembourg)
  • Currie & Brown (UK)
  • DAA International (Dublin Airport Authority, Ireland)
  • Dar Al-Handasah Consultants (Shair & Partners, Lebanon) 
  • DG Jones & Partners (UAE)
  • EB Cornerstone (UK)
  • Edgenta Arabia (Malaysia)
  • Egis Project (France)
  • Enzar Company for Operation & Maintenance (local)
  • Erada Advanced Projects (local)
  • EXP Arabia (Canada)
  • FAS Energy (local)
  • Ghesa Ingeniera Technologia (Spain)
  • GMR Airports (India)
  • Gulf Investment Corporation (Kuwait)
  • Haji Abdullah AliReza & Company (local)
  • IC Ictas (Turkiye)
  • Indiza Airport Management (South Africa)
  • Innovative Contractors for Advanced Dimensions (ICAD, local)
  • International Energy (local)
  • Kalyon Insaat (Turkiye)
  • Kolin Insaat (Turkiye)
  • Korea Airports Corporation (South Korea)
  • Koushan Real Estate Development Company (local)
  • Lamar Holding (local)
  • Limak Insaat (Turkiye)
  • Lynx Contracting Company (local)
  • Mada International Holding Company (local)
  • Makyol Insaat (local)
  • Manchester Airport Group (UK)
  • Middle East Tasks (local)
  • Modern Airports (local)
  • Mota-Engil (Portugal)
  • Mowah Company (local)
  • Munich Airport International (Germany)
  • Namaya Investment Company (local)
  • Nasser Abdullah Abu Sarhad (local)
  • National Transportation Solution Company (local)
  • Nesma & Partners (local)
  • Nesma Company (local)
  • Pini Group (Switzerland)
  • Ports Projects Management & Development Company (local)
  • Salso & Associates (Greece)
  • Samsung C&T Corporation (South Korea) 
  • Sarh Developments (local)
  • Saudi Arabian Trading & Construction Company (local)
  • Saudi Binladin Group (local)
  • Saudi Building Technic Maintenance Company (local)
  • Skilled Engineers Contracting (local)
  • Sumou Real Estate Company (local)
  • Tamasuk Holding Company (local)
  • Tatweer Buildings Company (local)
  • Tav Airports Holding (Turkiye)
  • Technical Development Company for Contracting (local)
  • Terminal Yapi Ve Ticaret (Turkiye) 
  • Vantage Group (Australia)
  • Vision International Investment Company (local)
  • WCT International (Malaysia)
  • Zamil Group (local)

The new Taif International airport will be located 21 kilometres southeast of the existing Taif airport, with a capacity to accommodate 2.5 million passengers by 2030.

The clients opted for a 30-year build-transfer-operate (BTO) contract model, including the construction period.

In addition to a new airport terminal, the proposed design features a runway with a full-length parallel taxiway connecting to a single commercial apron.

The scope includes facility buildings, utility networks, car parks and access roads, as well as provisions for additional expansions to meet future subsystem requirements.

The new Taif International airport is expected to meet the projected increase in demand by 2055 and contribute to the economic development of Taif city and its surrounding areas, in line with the kingdom’s National Aviation Strategy.

It is also expected to meet the needs of Umrah pilgrims as a viable alternative within the region’s multi-airport system, which includes King Abdulaziz Airport in Jeddah, Prince Mohammed Bin Abdulaziz Airport in Medina and Prince Abdulmohsen Bin Abdulaziz Airport in Yanbu.

Other airport PPPs

In addition to the Taif International project, three other airports comprise the first stage of Saudi Arabia’s latest plan to modernise and privatise its international and domestic airports.

The other planned airport public-private partnership (PPP) schemes are in Abha, Hail and Qassim.

Matarat and NCP recently tendered the contract to develop and operate a new passenger terminal building and related facilities at Abha International airport. They expect to receive bids by April.

Located in Asir province, the first phase of the Abha International airport PPP project is set for completion in 2028. It will increase the airport terminal area from 10,500 square metres (sq m) to 65,000 sq m. 

The contract scope includes a new rapid-exit taxiway on the current runway, a new apron to serve the new terminal, access roads to the new terminal building and a new car park area. The scope also includes support facilities such as an electrical substation expansion and a new sewage treatment plant.

The transaction advisory team for the client on the Abha airport PPP scheme comprises UK-headquartered Deloitte and Ashurst as financial and legal advisers, respectively, and ALG as technical adviser.

Previous tenders

The Taif, Hail and Qassim airport schemes were previously tendered and awarded as PPP projects using a BTO model.

Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (Gaca) awarded the contracts to develop four airport PPP projects to two separate consortiums in 2017.

A team of Tukey’s TAV Airports and the local Al-Rajhi Holding Group won the 30-year concession agreement to build, transfer and operate airport passenger terminals in Yanbu, Qassim and Hail.

A second team, comprising Lebanon’s Consolidated Contractors Company, Germany’s Munich Airport International and local firm Asyad Group, won the BTO contract to develop Taif International airport.

However, these projects stalled following the restructuring of the kingdom’s aviation sector.

Saudi Arabia has already privatised airports, including the $1.2bn Prince Mohammed Bin Abdulaziz International airport in Medina, which was developed as a PPP and opened in 2015.

https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/13391497/main.jpg
Jennifer Aguinaldo
Related Articles
  • Egypt tenders 500MW solar IPP

    19 February 2026

    Register for MEED’s 14-day trial access 

    Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company (EETC) has issued a request for qualifications for a 500MW solar photovoltaic (PV) independent power producer project in Egypt’s West of Nile area.

    The bid submission deadline is 11 May.

    The project is being supported by the European Bank for Reconstruction & Development and will be developed under a build-own-operate model.

    Developers will be responsible for designing, financing, constructing, owning and operating the plant, with EETC acting as the offtaker for generated electricity.

    US/India-based Synergy Consulting is acting as lead, financial and commercial advisor for this transaction.

    The project forms part of Egypt’s strategy to strengthen long-term electricity supply and increase renewable generation capacity.

    Egypt is targeting 42% renewable energy in its power mix by 2030. The country aims to raise this share to 65% by 2040.

    EETC previously had plans to build a 200MW solar plant in a west Nile area but cancelled the tender for the project in 2020.

    Egypt's power sector had its strongest year in over a decade last year, accounting for $4.2bn of total contract awards.

    Despite dipping from the previous year, solar accounted for about $1bn of total awards. 

    In November, a consortium of local firms Hassan Allam Utilities and Infinity Power won contracts to develop two solar PV projects with a combined capacity of 1,200MW, supported by 720 megawatt-hours (MWh) of battery storage.

    The UAE’s Amea Power and Japan’s Kyuden International Corporation also recently reached financial close on a $700m project comprising a 1,000MW solar plant and 600MWh battery system in Aswan.

    The scheme is backed by a $570m debt package led by the International Finance Corporation and is expected to become Africa’s largest single-asset solar and storage facility when it enters operation later this year.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/15701778/main.jpg
    Mark Dowdall
  • Local contractor wins $143m Jeddah sewage contracts

    19 February 2026

    Register for MEED’s 14-day trial access 

    Saudi Arabia’s National Water Company (NWC) has awarded two sewage network contracts worth a combined SR536.3m ($143m) to local contractor Civil Works Company.

    The projects will be implemented over 32 months from site handover and will serve northern Jeddah districts.

    The first contract, valued at SR278.5m ($74.3m), covers incomplete main lines and secondary sewage networks serving parts of the Al-Bashair, Al-Asala and Al-Falah neighbourhoods.

    The scope includes pipelines ranging from 200mm to 800mm in diameter with a total length of about 54.8 kilometres (km).

    The package also includes sewage tunnels with diameters ranging from 600mm to 1,800mm and a total length of approximately 6.5km. Works will also serve the Taybah, Abhar Al-Shamaliyah and Al-Hamdaniyah districts.

    The second contract is valued at SR257.8m ($68.8m). It covers the implementation of main lines and sub-networks to serve part of the Al-Hamdaniya neighbourhood.

    The works include pipelines ranging from 200mm to 1,500mm in diameter with a total length of about 78.5km. The scope also includes horizontal drilling works for sewage tunnels with diameters from 1,200mm to 1,400mm and a total length of approximately 205 metres.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/15699620/main.jpg
    Mark Dowdall
  • Saudi Arabia prequalifies firms for gas transmission grids

    19 February 2026

    Register for MEED’s 14-day trial access 

    Saudi Arabia's Energy Ministry has prequalified companies to develop natural gas distribution networks in five industrial cities in the kingdom on a build-own-operate (BOO) basis.

    The industrial zones earmarked are Al-Kharj Industrial City; Sudair City for Industry and Business; and the First, Second and Third Industrial Cities in Jeddah, the Energy Ministry said in a statement.

    The contractors prequalified to bid for the natural gas transmission grids BOO scheme include eight standalone firms and seven consortiums:

    • East Gas (Egypt)
    • Natural Gas Distribution Company (Saudi Arabia)
    • Egyptian Kuwaiti Advanced Operation and Maintenance (Saudi Arabia)
    • Modern Gas (Egypt)
    • Saab Energy Solutions (Saudi Arabia)
    • Sergas Contracting (Saudi Arabia)
    • Bharat Petroleum Corporation (India)
    • UniGas Arabia (Saudi Arabia)
    • Best Gas Carrier / Khazeen / Mubadra (Saudi Arabia)
    • Al Sharif Contracting (Saudi Arabia) / Anton Oilfield Services Group (China) China Oil and Gas Group
    • Hulul (owned by Saudi Arabia’s National Gas and Industrialization Company) /Al-Fanar Gas Group (UAE)
    • Indraprastha Gas (India) / Masah Contracting (Saudi Arabia)
    • Expertise Contracting / PGL Pipelines (UK)
    • National Gas Company (Egypt) / Egypt Gas (Egypt)
    • Taqa Arabia (Egypt) / Taqa Group (UAE)

    The Energy Ministry has set a deadline of 23 April for these prequalified contractors to submit technical bids.

    The ministry added in its statement that it has identified a total of 36 industrial cities in Saudi Arabia for gas infrastructure development.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/15699582/main0334.png
    Indrajit Sen
  • Consultants bid for Abu Dhabi airport delivery partner role

    19 February 2026

     

    Abu Dhabi Airports Company (Adac) received bids from major international firms on 19 January for a contract covering the delivery partner role for the upcoming packages at Zayed International airport (AUH).

    The project is part of the AUH satellite terminal programme, estimated at AED10bn ($2.7bn).

    MEED understands that the following firms have submitted bids:

    • Aecom (US)
    • AtkinsRealis/Egis/Mace (Canada/France/UK)
    • Bechtel (US)
    • Hill International (US)
    • Jacobs / Surbana Jurong (US/Singapore)
    • Parsons Corporation / Arup  (US/UK)

    The plan includes a new satellite concourse east of Terminal A, linked by an underground tunnel housing both an automated people mover and a baggage handling system.

    It also includes apron stands, taxi lanes and taxiways, East Midfield landside access and utilities, additional bus gates and the reconfiguration of the North and South aprons and Apron 6.

    The latest tendering activity follows the start of construction works on the East Midfield cargo terminal located at AUH, as MEED reported in December 2024.

    Local firm Raq Contracting is undertaking the construction works on this project. 

    The terminal will cover an area of 90,000 square metres and will have the capacity to handle about 1.5 million tonnes of cargo annually.

    The project is part of a broader plan to enhance the new airport's profile.

    Abu Dhabi opened a new passenger terminal in November 2023 as part of the airport’s plan to increase its passenger traffic in line with the UAE’s wider growth plans, along with projects such as the rail network being built by Etihad Rail.

    In May 2024, MEED reported that AUH's new Terminal A could connect to the Etihad Rail network in the future, as part of its growth and interconnectivity plans. 

    Plans are in progress to link the new terminal at AUH to the UAE’s growing rail network, according to the CEO of Adac.

    Speaking to UK analytic firm GlobalData's Airport Technology during a tour of the new Terminal A at AUH, CEO Elena Sorlini said that Abu Dhabi Aviation is planning to improve the transport links to the site. 

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/15698728/main.png
    Yasir Iqbal
  • Qatari firm wins Damascus airport MEP works

    19 February 2026

    Qatari firm Elegancia MEP, which is owned by local investment firm Estithmar Holding, has won a contract to undertake the mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) and extra-low-voltage (ELV) systems works for the Damascus International airport Terminal 2 project.

    In a statement, Elegancia MEP said that its scope covers the execution of MEP and ELV systems works to support terminal operations, passenger facilities, safety systems and overall operational efficiency.

    The MEP works for the airport project include electrical installations; heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems; safety and security systems; firefighting systems; surveillance and monitoring systems; control systems; and plumbing works.

    The contract award follows the signing of the final concession contracts in November last year by Qatar’s UCC-led consortium to redevelop Damascus airport, formalising the prior memorandum of understanding (MoU) inked in August 2025 with Syria’s General Authority of Civil Aviation.

    The contract will see the consortium redevelop and expand the airport in several phases under a build-operate-transfer framework, with a view to raising total capacity to 31 million passengers annually upon the completion of all phases.

    The agreement is valued at an estimated $4bn and includes plans for the overhaul of all existing terminals, the construction of other passenger facilities and 500 kilometres of access roads, as well as the development of a commercial complex centred around a five-star hotel.

    The signing of the final concession contracts followed UCC Holding’s provisional signing in October last year of five consultancy and design agreements for planned work on the project.

    The earlier MoU designated UCC Holding as the primary developer through its investment arm UCC Concessions Investment, alongside three Turkish partners – Cengiz, Kalyon and TAV – and the US-based Assets Investments USA.

    US-based firm Synergy Consulting is the financial adviser for the consortium.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/15698666/main.png
    Yasir Iqbal