Al Arabiya English

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman launched on Monday the master plan for the King Salman International Airport in Riyadh, which is expected to be one of the world’s largest airports, the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

The airport is expected to contribute $7.18 billion (27 billion riyals) annually to the non-oil GDP and is estimated to create 103,000 jobs. The King Salman International Airport also aims to accommodate up to 120 million travelers by 2030, 185 million travelers by 2050 and looks at a capacity to process 3.5 million tons of cargo by 2050, SPA added.

The airport master plan is in line with the vision to make Riyadh among the world’s top 10 city economies as well as to keep up with the growth in the capital’s population that is targeted to range between 15 million and 20 million people by 2030.

Covering an approximate area of 57 square kilometers and including six parallel runaways, the airport will also boost Riyadh’s position as global logistics hub and will boost transport, trade and tourism.

“It will also include 12 square kilometers of airport support facilities, residential and recreational facilities, retail outlets, and other logistics real estate,” SPA said, adding that sustainability will be at the heart of the airport.

“The new airport will achieve LEED Platinum certification by incorporating cutting edge green initiatives into its design and will be powered by renewable energy,” the report said.

The architecture and design will reflect Saudi culture and heritage, offering passengers a unique travel experience.