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King Salman International Airport Development Company (KSIADC) has received bids for a design-and-build contract to develop the third runway at King Salman International airport (KSIA) in Riyadh.

It is understood that the third and fourth runways will add to the two existing runways at Riyadh’s King Khalid International airport, which will eventually become part of KSIA.

In February, MEED exclusively reported that firms had submitted prequalification forms on 18 January for a contract to develop the third runway and taxiways at KSIA.

KSIADC, which is backed by Saudi sovereign wealth vehicle the Public Investment Fund, received interest from firms in December last year for the package.

KSIADC previously prequalified firms for the main engineering, procurement and construction packages and early and enabling works, as well as other elements of the construction work. These included specialist systems and integration; materials and equipment; engineering and design; professional services; health, safety, security, environment and wellbeing services; modular installation and prefabrication; local content; and environmental, social and governance (ESG) and other services.

The entire scheme is divided into eight assets:

• Iconic Terminal
• Terminal 6
• Private aviation terminal 
• Central runway and temporary apron
• Hangars
• Landside transport
• Cargo buildings
• Real estate

In August last year, KSIADC appointed several architectural and design firms for the various elements of the project.

KSIADC confirmed that it had signed up UK-based Foster + Partners to design the airport’s masterplan, including the terminals, six runways and a multi-asset real estate area.

US-based engineering firm Jacobs will provide specialist consultancy services for the masterplan and the design of the new runways.

The client also confirmed the appointment of UK-based engineering firm Mace for the delivery partner role on the project.

The airspace design consultancy contract was awarded to local firm Nera.

Project scale

The project covers an area of about 57 square kilometres (sq km), allowing for six parallel runways. It will include the existing terminals at King Khalid International airport, as well as 12 sq km of airport support facilities, residential and recreational facilities, retail outlets and other logistics real estate.

If the project is completed on time in 2030, it will become the world’s largest operating airport in terms of passenger capacity, according to UK analytics firm GlobalData.

The airport aims to accommodate up to 120 million passengers by 2030 and 185 million by 2050. The goal for cargo is to process 3.5 million tonnes a year by 2050.

Saudi Arabia plans to invest $100bn in its aviation sector. Riyadh’s Saudi Aviation Strategy, announced by the General Authority of Civil Aviation, aims to triple Saudi Arabia’s annual passenger traffic to 330 million travellers by 2030.

It also aims to increase air cargo traffic to 4.5 million tonnes and raise the country’s total air connections to more than 250 destinations. 

MEED’s April 2025 report on Saudi Arabia includes:

> GOVERNMENT: Riyadh takes the diplomatic initiative

> ECONOMY: Saudi Arabia’s non-oil economy forges onward

> BANKING: Saudi banks work to keep pace with credit expansion

> UPSTREAM: Saudi oil and gas spending to surpass 2024 level

> DOWNSTREAM: Aramco’s recalibrated chemical goals reflect realism

> POWER: Saudi power sector enters busiest year

> WATER: Saudi water contracts set another annual record

> CONSTRUCTION: Reprioritisation underpins Saudi construction

> TRANSPORT: Riyadh pushes ahead with infrastructure development

> DATABANK: Saudi Arabia’s growth trend heads up