Projects

Saudi Kicks Off $30bn King Salman Airport Upgrade

The new airport will handle 150 million passengers by 2050.

Updated on

August 31, 2025

King Salman Airport: 57 sq km, six runways. (Photo: Foster + Partners)

Work is finally underway to expand King Salman International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in a project set to make it the world’s largest airport, handling 120 million travellers annually.

Designed by British architect Foster + Partners, the new airport will sit on 57 square kilometres of land, accommodating six runways and seven terminals. This makes it the world’s largest airfield by area.

The upgraded King Salman International Airport will include 12 sq km reserved for residential, recreational, and retail spaces, creating a vibrant aerotropolis for aviation and urban growth.

The estimated cost of the project currently stands at $30 billion.

In May 2025, American engineering company Bechtel signed a deal with the King Salman International Airport Development Company to serve as the delivery partner for three new terminals at the upcoming facility.

The company will construct a commercial terminal, Terminal 6, for low-cost carriers, and a private aviation terminal with hangars, replacing existing facilities at King Khalid International Airport.

“The King Salman International Airport is a landmark project that will reshape Riyadh and enhance the lives and communities it serves,” Darren Mort, President of Bechtel’s Infrastructure Business, said in a press release.

Upon completion of the project in 2030, the revamped King Salman International Airport will handle one million aircraft movements annually – up from the current 211,000 movements.

Projected to handle 120 million passengers by 2030 and 150 million by 2050, the new airport will be a key part of Saudi Arabia’s bid to lead in international travel.