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Riyadh tenders King Salman International airport runway

6 May 2025

 

King Salman International Airport Development Company (KSIADC), backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, has issued a tender for a design-and-build contract to develop the fourth runway at King Salman International airport (KSIA) in Riyadh.

The tender was floated on 17 April. The bid submission deadline is 15 May.

Earlier in May, MEED exclusively reported that KSIADC had given firms until 12 May to submit bids for a design-and-build contract to develop the third runway at KSIA.

It is understood that the third and fourth runways will add to the two existing runways at Riyadh’s King Khalid International airport, which will eventually become part of KSIA.

KSIADC prequalified firms in September for the main engineering, procurement and construction 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 services; modular installation and prefabrication; local content; and environmental, social and governance and other services.

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

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

In August last year, KSIADC confirmed it had signed up several architectural and design firms for the various elements of the project.

UK-based Foster+Partners will 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.

UK-based engineering firm Mace was appointed to carry out the delivery partner role on the project, and the airspace design consultancy contract was awarded to local firm Nera.

Project scale

The project covers an area of about 57 square kilometres (sq km), 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), aims to triple 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. 

https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/13820261/main.jpg
Yasir Iqbal

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