The Saudi capital of Riyadh is getting a second airport that will become one of the largest in the world when it is completed in 2030. The six new runways of King Salman International Airport will serve 120 million passengers annually, also making it one of the world’s busiest airports. Riyadh’s current commercial airport, King Khalid International Airport (RUH), was constructed in 1983 and serves 30 million passengers annually.
Measuring by total land area, Saudi Arabia already hosts the world’s largest airport – King Fahd International Airport (DMM) in Dammam. The former American military installation was converted to a civilian commercial airport for the region in 1999 and spans a total of 776 square kilometers (299 square miles).
By contrast, the world’s second largest airport, Denver International Airport (DEN), covers only 135 square kilometers (53 square miles) and the third largest, Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), less than half of that at 69 square kilometers (26 square miles). The new King Salman International Airport will cover 57 square kilometers (22 square miles), making it the second largest in the kingdom and the third largest globally when completed.
A trio of British and American architecture, design, and construction companies succeeded in winning contracts for the new airport. Construction, maintenance, and overall project management will be undertaken by the UK-based Mace Group, while US-based Jacobs and UK-based Foster + Partners will handle design and architectural work, respectively.
