Construction on Saudi Jazan airport said to begin soon

Saudi Arabia expects to begin construction at Jazan King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Airport, which will replace Jazan Regional Airport, on a new location within three to four months, MEED reported on Wednesday, citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter.

The facility is expected to be completed in 2020.

The project land was handed over by the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) in April to the consortium, comprising Safari Company, Nassir Hazza and Saudi Lebanese Modern Construction.

“There are significant savings to be made with the construction of the airport on this new location compared to redeveloping the old airport,” the source said, adding that the cost-savings will now be used to finance the upgrade of the existing airport.

Lebanon’s Khatib & Alami was also appointed to design the airport, following allocation of the new plot of land.

The joint venture is currently undertaking the construction of a new runway and taxiways and the upgrade of facilities at the existing airport in Jazan.

The project will feature a single passenger terminal and is expected to have the capacity to handle 2.4 million passengers per annum.

In 2014, GACA awarded a $685 million contract to a consortium of builders to develop a terminal building along with a modern cargo complex and air traffic control tower, a runway and taxiway, among other facilities.

Construction works for King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Airport were halted in December 2015 as reports by Saudi Aramco said the proposed airport location site may suggest an oil and gas opportunity.