The upgrade project includes construction of new terminals and repairing the existing terminals’ decaying infrastructure. These are intended to make the airport capable of handling 35 million passengers annually.
Saudi Binladin Group was awarded the main construction contract worth SAR27 billion ($7.2 billion) in November 2010. The first phase of the contract covers construction of a 670,000 square metre terminal with 94 aircraft bays. This new terminal will feature 46 additional departure gates, 96 airway bridges, 200 new counters, a luggage-handling system, five passenger lounges and a 56-room hotel.
Saudi Binladin is responsible to build a 133m airport control tower, the world’s tallest control tower, in the second phase. An 8,200-capacity carpark, three power generation and cooling centres, data administration centers, infrastructure and road networks will also be constructed.
The airport will also get new tunnels, corridors, train stations and communications systems; new taxiways; aprons; roads and support facilities.
KAIA is the first international airport established as part of the programmes prepared by the government of the Kingdom for the development of the Kingdom’s international airports.
