- Foster & Partners, an award-winning architectural and engineering firm, will design the airport’s master plan.
- The master plan covers a total area of 57 square kilometers and includes several lounges and six runways.
- The engineering firm Jacobs will provide specialized consulting services for the airport’s detailed master plan and the design of the new runways.
- Mace, a leading consultancy and construction company, will apply international best practices, innovations and cutting-edge methodologies throughout all phases of design and construction.
- Saudi Arabian aviation company Nera will oversee the design of the airspace to increase air traffic efficiency and improve operations through the use of the latest technologies.
We recently talked about a new cargo airline from Saudi Arabia that was unveiled while the launch process for Riyadh Air is still underway, but now it’s the turn of a new airport, or call it an aerotropolis.
With the completion of King Salman Airport, Riyadh will create an aerotropolis that may become the largest aerotropolis in the world once the construction and expansion projects are completed.
King Salman International Airport Development Company (KSIADC) has now hired experts in Foster & Partners, Jacobs Engineering, Mace and Nera They will take on the design for this task and build the 57 km², six-runway airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
King Salman International Airport, a project supported by the Saudi government’s Public Investment Fund (Pif), takes its first steps this month.
PIFs Vision 2030 The work programme is designed to help the country diversify its revenues away from oil and gas exports and includes financing the ambitious Neom gigaproject.
PIF said in a statement in 2022:
“KSIA is planned to be one of the largest airports with an area of 57 km² and six parallel runways. This will enable the airport’s capacity to grow to 120 million passengers by 2030 and 185 million by 2050. In addition, there will be 12 km² of supporting facilities, residential, leisure, shopping and logistics complexes.
“KSIA is one of the ambitious projects to support Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which aims to leverage its strategic geographical location as it provides a link between Asia, Africa and Europe and makes Riyadh a global destination for transport, trade and tourism.”
Announcement of the appointment of Jacobs, Mace and Foster & Partners, KSIADC Acting CEO Marco Mejia said:
“We want to set a global benchmark with this airport and advance Saudi Arabia’s vision for 2030 to transform Riyadh into a global hub and position Saudi Arabia as an economic engine.”
“We are delighted to welcome these industry leaders who will work closely with the KSIA team. Their combined expertise will be instrumental in creating a world-class airport that exceeds expectations and promotes regional economic prosperity.”
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Spanning approx. 57 km²the facility will have six parallel runways and existing terminals named after King Khalidthe founder of modern Saudi Arabia. It will also include 12 square kilometers of utilities, residential and recreational areas, retail space and logistics properties.
In order to implement this, the roles of all those involved have been defined and all of the companies mentioned will now work on validating the concept master plan.
The contracts with these leading firms in the fields of architecture, engineering, construction and air traffic management aim to advance the development of the facility and establish it as a major hub for tourism, travel and transport in Riyadh and the wider region.
Foster & Partners appointed to design key assets
Architectural firm Foster & Partners said the KSIA Airport master plan “covers 12km² of residential and leisure facilities, retail stores, airport facilities and other logistics properties” and is “connected by the Wadi Loopa green infrastructure corridor that builds up the existing wadi and connects the existing West Midfield with the new East Midfield.”
The company said Wadi Loop
“brings landscape and real estate developments right into the heart of the new terminal and enables seamless journeys across the site. By expanding the public transport network, the masterplan also improves the airport’s connections with the wider city.”
Foster & Partners said the main terminal would seek to replicate Riyadh and incorporate natural elements. Of the designs they were working on, they said:
“Natural ventilation and air-conditioned lighting efficiently ensure an optimal indoor climate all year round. Movement through the terminal is intuitive, with clear routing and minimal level changes.”
Foster & Partner Studio head Luke Fox said:
“We are excited to begin work on the next phase of the new King Salman International Airport – a truly innovative approach to airport design that reinvents the passenger experience at every level and creates a unique airport metropolis steeped in Riyadh culture.”
What will Jacobs’ role be?
Jacobs was selected by KSIADC to provide “concept master plan validation, detailed master plan design, runway design” and other unspecified services to the airport.
The master plan will cover “an area of approx. 57 square kilometers and includes six parallel runways, new terminals and surrounding real estate development,” said Jacobs.
The “Aerotropola” is intended to provide the necessary passenger and freight capacities for planned gigaprojects in the region.
Jacob said:
“The King Salman International Airport Development Company expects the airport to handle up to 100 million passengers annually by 2030.”
“The project will focus on low-carbon design, the use of renewable energy and technological innovations to ensure more sustainable and efficient operations, achieve LEED Platinum certification and provide visitors with a unique travel experience.”
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Mace leads delivery partner services for airport
Project and program management, PMO (project management office) and planning, construction management, cost and commercial management, procurement, logistics, health and safety strategy, and sustainability, environmental and carbon advisory services will all be provided by Mace, according to the company.
The company will work to
“Optimizing planning and construction times to enable the gradual completion of one of the largest airports in the world,” Mace continued.
Club also said the KSIA
“It will be ready to welcome visitors to Expo 2030 Riyadh and the 2034 FIFA World Cup™ and will play a key role in Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification as part of Vision 2030.”
Mace Consult Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa Christopher Seymour said:
“Under Vision 2030Saudi Arabia is rapidly becoming the global epicenter for legendary mega-projects and programs.
“Securing this role as delivery partner with KSIADC builds on our continued growth in the Middle East and provides us with a fantastic opportunity to help deliver an iconic program that will bring great benefits to businesses, communities, tourists and residents of the Kingdom.”
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The PIF funds help many Western civil engineering companies continue to work in Saudi Arabia despite the controversy surrounding the Saudi government and the country’s infrastructure projects.
The Aerotropolis is expected to contribute SR 27 billion (US$7.20 billion) annually to the non-oil gross domestic product and create 103,000 direct and indirect jobs, in line with the Vision 2030 objectives.
The Aerotropolis master plan was announced in November 2022 by Prince Mohamed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Chairman of the Economic and Development Council and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Public Investment Fund.
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