Monitoring Desk
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is all set to build one of the largest airports to fulfill its ambition of becoming a global hub for trade and tourism.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said that the King Salman International Airport in Riyadh will have six parallel runways.
The new airport, which is expected to contribute $7.18 billion annually to the country’s non-oil gross domestic product (GDP), is expected to handle annual passengers from the current 29 million to 120 million travelers by 2030 and further 185 million by the year 2050, according to Arab News.
It will incorporate cutting-edge green initiatives into its design and it will be powered by solar and renewable energy. It will achieve LEED Platinum for its sustainability, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
It will set to be built by the Public Investment Fund, will include the existing terminals and it will have the capacity to handle 3.5 million tons of cargo by the year 2050.
It will become an aerotropolis, centered around a seamless customer journey with world-class efficient operations and innovations. It will also depict the Saudi culture in its design to “ensure a unique travel experience for visitors as well as transit travelers”.
“The new project is in line with Saudi Arabia’s vision to transform Riyadh into the top 10 city economies in the world besides supporting the growth of Riyadh’s population to 15–20 million people by 2030,” according to the Saudi Press Agency.
