Riyadh: Minister of Culture and Governor of the Royal Commission for AlUla Prince Bader bin Abdullah bin Farhan inaugurated the AlUla International Airport terminal expansion project in the presence of President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation Abdulaziz Al-Duailej and Royal Commission for AlUla CEO Abeer AlAkel. The inauguration reflects the commission's commitment to developing vital infrastructure and strengthening AlUla's position as a key aviation and logistics hub in northwest Saudi Arabia.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the expansion project forms part of an integrated vision aimed at keeping pace with rapid growth in passenger numbers and the increasing frequency of domestic and international flights, while meeting rising demand from visitors and investors. It further reinforces the airport's role as a key enabler of tourism and economic development in AlUla.
The Royal Commission for AlUla explained that the project is built around three main pillars: supporting AlUla's sustainable growth; enhancing operational readiness and improving the passenger experience; and delivering an integrated system that serves visitors, investors, and airlines. The initiative also boosts AlUla's attractiveness as a promising investment destination in the tourism and aviation sectors, in line with the objectives of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy and Saudi Vision 2030.
The project represents a transformation in the airport's infrastructure, with the total terminal building area increasing by about 44 percent from 3,800 square meters to around 5,450 square meters. This will raise annual capacity from 400,000 to 700,000 passengers, an increase of 75 percent.
The works included comprehensive enhancements to the passenger journey through the integration of smart solutions and technologies, including e-gates, to accelerate procedures and improve service levels. Immigration capacity in the international arrivals hall was also strengthened by increasing the number of passport control counters from four to twelve, ensuring the airport's readiness to efficiently accommodate future growth in air traffic.
The development builds on a series of initiatives implemented at AlUla International Airport in recent years, most notably the expansion of the destination network and the attraction of international airlines. It also follows an agreement signed during the previous Future Investment Initiative Forum for the management and operation of the Fixed Base Operator private aviation terminal, enhancing ground services efficiency and supporting the airport's long-term operational readiness.
The commission affirmed that the expansion represents a strategic enabler for the economic development ecosystem, empowering sectors linked to tourism, aviation, and logistics, creating investment opportunities, and adhering to the highest sustainability standards while preserving the cultural and natural identity of AlUla.
AlUla International Airport continues to play a pivotal role in strengthening air connectivity with priority regional and international markets, supporting the hosting of major cultural and tourism events, and reinforcing AlUla's position as an aviation and logistics hub serving visitors and investors, contributing to the achievement of the governorate's comprehensive and sustainable development objectives.