King Salman International Airport Development Company signs four firms to build mega airport under ‘Vision 2030’

King Salman International Airport Development Company (KSIADC), have announced the signing of four leading local and international companies in the fields of architecture, engineering, construction, and air traffic management. This partnership aims to start a new phase to develop King Salman International Airport (KSIA). “We are committed to delivering an airport which will be seen as the benchmark in the world of aviation. It will provide the national and international connectivity the city of Riyadh needs to meet and drive the business, trade and tourism growth set out in Vision 2030.” Said Marco Mejia, Acting CEO of KSIA.

KSIA is expected to be one of the world’s largest airports, covering an estimated area of 57km², and forms a crucial part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s  ‘Vision 2030’, as the Saudi nation looks to diversify its economic portfolio away from oil production, to become a hub of international travel. The airport will welcome 100 million passengers in that year. The project will prioritise low-carbon design, use of renewable energy and technological innovation to deliver more sustainable and efficient operations, achieving LEED Platinum Certification and offering a unique travel experience for visitors.

Credit: KSIA

Who has been brought in and what will they do?

Foster + Partners

Foster + Partners is a global studio for sustainable architecture, urbanism, engineering and design, founded in 1967. They have been assigned to design the airport’s masterplan covering a total area of 57 square kilometres. This includes the construction of several terminals, six runways, and a multi-asset real estate area.

Seif A. Bahaa Eldin, Senior Partner, Foster + Partners, said: “The masterplan brings together a revolutionary design concept that prioritises the passenger experience while creating a new gateway for Riyadh.”

The airport’s design will capture Riyadh’s essence and reflect Saudi culture, providing a unique travel experience for visitors and travellers.

Jacobs

Jacobs is an international engineering firm that provides a full spectrum of professional services that includes consulting, technical, scientific and project delivery. Jacobs will provide a concept masterplan  validation, detailed masterplan design, and runway designs for KSIA.

“This project supports The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s ambition to deliver the strategic objectives under Vision 2030, showcasing the Kingdom to the world and diversifying the economy into new areas such as tourism,” said Jacobs Senior Vice President, Keith Lawson. “We look forward to delivering this project with our local talent, partners and our global aviation team and are excited for the growth and positive change it will bring for decades to come.”

Mace

Mace are global consultants and construction experts, that will lead the full range of delivery partner services for the six-runway airport. This will incorporate project and programme management, PMO and planning, construction management, cost and commercial management, procurement, logistics, health and safety strategy, sustainability, environmental and carbon-advisory services.

Davendra Dabasia, Chief Executive Officer of Mace Consult, said: “King Salman International Airport is a game-changing infrastructure programme. The scale of ambition for the programme’s physical build, as well as its commitment to sustainability, innovation and economic development, is unmatched.

Nera

Nera is a Saudi Arabian company offering technological solutions and services company that chose to contribute to shaping the future of aviation in the Middle East and around the world. They will oversee the design of airspace to enhance air traffic efficiency and improve operations using the latest technologies.

One such state-of-the-art technologies that Nera will be providing is remote digital towers, which offer a revolutionary solution composed of an array of high-performance cameras. They provide the safest and most efficient air traffic control service by leveraging emerging technologies such as night vision, zoom cameras, augmented reality, and computer techniques. These are specifically implemented to simplify tower control operations, maximise situational awareness, improve safety, and enable the delivery of services in conditions or at times that would not be possible from a conventional facility.

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