Riyadh, August 7, 2025 , Ground has officially been broken on the highly anticipated King Salman International Airport, one of the most ambitious aviation developments in global history. Designed by the renowned British firm Foster + Partners, this monumental expansion will redefine Riyadh’s role as a global transit and logistics hub.
Spanning an expansive 57 square kilometres, equivalent to around 14,000 football fields, the airport will feature six parallel runways and up to seven passenger terminals, including existing facilities. Upon completion, it is expected to accommodate an estimated 100 million travelers annually by 2030, with capacity to scale up to 185 million by 2050.
Foster + Partners’ design emphasizes fluid passenger movement and environmental cohesion. Its signature “Wadi Loop” green corridor will integrate natural landscaping and mixed-use real estate, residential, recreational, retail, and logistics, directly into the airport fabric. The terminal spaces will be infused with natural ventilation, climate-adaptive lighting, and sweeping views to foster a sensory connection between travelers and their surroundings.
Signature design elements are backed by robust global partnerships. In May 2025, U.S. engineering giants Bechtel and Parsons secured delivery partner contracts to oversee the construction of three major terminals, dedicated zones for commercial, new Terminal 6, and private aviation with maintenance infrastructure, further bolstering the project’s scale.
This mega-project aligns with Saudi Arabia’s broader Vision 2030 initiative, aiming to propel the nation’s tourism, trade, and connectivity forward. Upon opening, King Salman International Airport could become the world’s busiest aviation hub, a bold testament to the Kingdom’s transformation.
