King Salman International Airport (KSIA), Riyadh

King Salman International Airport is Saudi Arabia's planned new hub for Riyadh. It is being built around the existing King Khalid International Airport (KKIA, opened 1983), whose terminals and two runways will become part of it. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced the masterplan in late November/early December 2022 through the Public Investment Fund (PIF).

Scale: the site covers about 57 sq km and allows for six parallel runways. About 12 sq km is set aside for airport support, residential, leisure, retail and logistics property. Passenger targets are up to 120 million a year by 2030 in most sources (100 million in later MEED reports) and 185 million by 2050, with 3.5 million tonnes of cargo a year by 2050. GlobalData says that if it opens on time in 2030 it would be the world's largest operating airport by passenger capacity. The airport aims to run on renewable energy and to gain LEED Platinum certification. It supports the national aviation strategy of 330 million passengers a year by 2030.

Who is building it: the developer is King Salman International Airport Development Company (KSIADC), owned by PIF. The scheme is split into eight assets: Iconic Terminal, Terminal 6, private aviation terminal, central runway and temporary apron, hangars, landside transport, cargo buildings and real estate. Foster + Partners designed the masterplan, Jacobs advises on the masterplan and designs the new runways, Mace is a delivery partner and Nera handles airspace design (all confirmed August 2024). In May 2025 Bechtel was appointed to manage delivery of three new terminals, and Parsons to manage airside works and landside infrastructure.

Key dates: early works by Almabani started in January 2025. Spain's FCC, with Almabani, is building the 4.2 km third runway, which raises capacity from 65 to 85 aircraft movements an hour. In March 2026 three teams were shortlisted for six months of early contractor involvement on Terminal 6 (about 40 million passengers a year). In May 2026 three groups were picked for the Terminal 6 apron and taxiways, a package MEED puts at up to US$800m. In July 2026 a China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation / Mofarreh AlHarbi venture won the Terminal 6 enabling and substructure works (SAR 800m, US$213m). In October 2026 RTCC and IC Ictas won the private aviation terminal. MEED reported on 23 Oct 2026 that all three Terminal 6 teams had finished the early contractor involvement phase, submitting construction methods and technical design proposals. The scheme now moves towards a main construction tender and award. Separately, Saudi Royal Aviation has tendered phase two (detailed design to close-out) of an aviation complex within the KSIA masterplan, estimated at SR3bn (US$817m). The scope includes landside and airside buildings, maintenance hangars, aprons and utilities, and bids were moved from 8 Oct to 19 Nov 2026.

Setbacks: none officially reported. The fourth runway tender has had several deadline extensions (first issued 17 April 2025, bids then moved to 3 December 2025), and the Terminal 6 award slipped from "mid-2026" to the current early contractor involvement phase.

Next: road and utility packages (Zone C1+C2 bids due 6 Dec 2026), the Saudi Royal Aviation complex (bids due 19 Nov 2026), fuel facilities (offered as a public–private partnership on a design-build-finance-operate-maintain basis), the fourth runway, and the main Terminal 6 and Iconic Terminal contracts.

Milestone path

1. Late Nov / early Dec 2022 (sources differ)

   Masterplan announced through PIF

   Achieved

   Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced the KSIA masterplan through the Public Investment Fund: about 57 sq km, room for six parallel runways, and up to 185 million passengers a year by 2050.

   Why it matters: If it opens on time in 2030, GlobalData says it would be the world's largest operating airport by passenger capacity.

2. 20 Aug 2024

   Masterplan and delivery consultants confirmed

   Achieved

   Foster + Partners (masterplan), Jacobs (masterplan and runway design), Mace (delivery partner) and Nera (airspace design) were confirmed in their roles.

   Why it matters: These firms shape the specifications that later contractors and suppliers must meet.

3. Jan 2025

   Preparatory works begin on site

   Achieved

   Transport Minister Saleh Al-Jasser announced the start of preparatory works, and Almabani began early works.

   Why it matters: Work on site opens the first openings for local earthworks, utilities and logistics subcontractors.

4. 15 May 2025

   Bechtel and Parsons delivery roles

   Latest

   Bechtel was appointed to deliver three new terminals. Parsons won two four-year contracts to manage airside works and landside infrastructure.

   Why it matters: Delivery partners manage the main packages, so suppliers will deal with them on scope and schedule.

Milestone path

1. Dec 2025 (reported 31 Dec 2025)

   Third runway construction begins

   Achieved

   FCC Construcción and Almabani began building the 4.2 km third runway and taxiways. These raise capacity from 65 to 85 aircraft movements an hour.

   Why it matters: It is the first new airfield capacity to be built at the site.

2. 4 Mar 2026

   Terminal 6 teams shortlisted

   Achieved

   Three contractor teams were shortlisted for six months of early contractor involvement on Terminal 6, a terminal for about 40 million passengers a year.

   Why it matters: Only one of these teams will build the terminal, so its subcontract and supply chain matters.

3. 14–15 Jul 2026

   Terminal 6 enabling works awarded

   Achieved

   China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation and Mofarreh AlHarbi & Partners won the Terminal 6 enabling and substructure works, worth SAR 800m (US$213m).

   Why it matters: It is the first construction award on a passenger terminal at KSIA.

4. 5 Oct 2026

   Private aviation terminal contract won

   Latest

   Al-Rashid Trading & Contracting (RTCC) and IC Ictas won the private aviation terminal construction contract, estimated at SR800m (US$214m).

   Why it matters: It opens fit-out, systems and hangar work for business aviation suppliers.

Milestone path

1. 23 Oct 2026

   Terminal 6 contractor input phase completed

   Achieved

   All three Terminal 6 teams finished early contractor involvement, submitting construction methods and technical design proposals.

   Why it matters: the main construction tender and award, for which no date has been published.

2. 26 Oct 2026 (bids due 6 Dec 2026)

   Zone C1+C2 infrastructure tender issued

   Latest

   KSIADC issued the tender for roads, bridges and utility networks in Zones C1 and C2, with bids due on 6 December 2026.

   Why it matters: Landside roads and utilities are a large opening for regional civil and utilities contractors.

3. 19 Nov 2026 (bid deadline, moved from 8 Oct)

   Aviation complex bids due

   Planned

   Bids are due for phase two of a Saudi Royal Aviation complex within the KSIA masterplan, estimated at SR3bn (US$817m). It covers detailed design to close-out, including hangars, workshops and aprons.

   What to watch: whether the deadline holds, and which contractor wins.

4. Before Expo 2030 Riyadh (initial terminal operations 2029 per Gulf Construction)

   Terminal 6 open for passengers

   Planned

   Terminal 6 is due to be operating before Expo 2030 Riyadh, adding about 40 million passengers a year.

   What to watch: awards for the fourth runway and Iconic Terminal, both still in procurement.