• Construction has begun on a third runway at Riyadh’s King Salman International Airport, part of Saudi Arabia’s $30 billion Vision 2030 infrastructure plan.
• Contractors FCC Construcción and Al-Mabani General Contractors Company are responsible for the works, according to the airport’s developer, which is owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).

The third runway forms part of the King Salman International Airport (KSIA) master plan and has been designed to align with prevailing wind conditions in Riyadh, with the aim of improving safety and operational efficiency.

It will be 4,200 metres long and include multiple access taxiways to support smoother aircraft movements.

Once operational, the runway is expected to increase the airport’s hourly capacity from 65 aircraft movements to 85, supporting long-term growth in passenger and cargo traffic.

King Salman International Airport is being developed on the existing site of King Khalid International Airport and is one of Saudi Arabia’s most significant infrastructure programmes under Saudi Vision 2030. The overall airport development is widely reported to carry a total investment value of around SAR 112.5 billion ($30 billion) and is expected to become the largest airport in the world.

UK-based construction company Mace won the role of delivery partner for the project in 2024. The wider scheme will comprise six runways, three new passenger terminals alongside the existing King Khalid terminals, extensive logistics facilities, and associated residential and leisure developments.

Covering an area of approximately 57 square kilometres, the airport is designed to handle up to 100 million passengers annually and more than two million tonnes of cargo by 2030.

In a statement reported by the Saudi Press Agency, acting CEO of KSIA, Marco Mejia, said, “Launching construction of the third runway marks a pivotal step in delivering the KSIA Master Plan and reflects our commitment to developing world-class infrastructure capable of supporting future growth, enhancing operational efficiency, and expanding long-haul connectivity without constraints.”

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