Construction Review Online
M Kubwa
13 July 2026
The King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) City project in Jeddah is advancing significantly under its masterplan aimed at transforming the gateway into a world-class, multi-modal economic and lifestyle hub. Spearheaded by developer Al-Hokair Group with independent engineering oversight from DG Jones & Partners, the massive mixed-use development spans over 670,000 square meters of land and will feature more than 1 million square meters of gross floor area (GFA) upon full completion. Positioned as the “New Gate of Jeddah,” the complex integrates a vibrant commercial and hospitality core featuring hotels, retail districts, residential properties, and family entertainment zones directly linked to national highway networks and the Haramain high-speed rail line.
This infrastructure push aligns directly with a major capacity expansion at the airport itself, which recently set a national record by handling 53.4 million passengers in a single year. To sustain this momentum and cope with high operational demands, a terminal expansion project scheduled for completion later in 2026 is aggressively adding 15 million passengers of annual capacity to Terminal 1, bringing its near-term ceiling to 45 million. These synchronized developments serve as crucial stepping stones toward Saudi Vision 2030 aviation goals, which target a long-term processing capability of up to 80 million passengers annually by 2035 while solidifying Jeddah’s role as the primary international entry point for millions of tourists and pilgrims traveling to Makkah...
