Saudi-based Matarat Holding Company and The National Center for Privatization & PPP (NCP) have invited expressions of interest (EOI) from leading companies for the development of Abha International Airport in Aseer region.

This move aims to attract competent private sector entities, in accordance with the Private Sector Participation (PSP) Law, said Matarat, which manages the kingdom’s airports and monitors the operations of 27 airports in the country through its subsidiaries (Riyadh Airports, Jeddah Airports, Dammam Airports, and Cluster 2).

The project will be implemented based on the new Abha Airport’s masterplan announced by the Crown Prince.

Covering an estimated area of 4.6 sq km, the entire Abha airport project is set to be implemented in two to three phases.

Under Phase One, a new terminal building will be set up in the airport on a total area of 69,400 sq m, followed by its expansion to 73,200 sq m in the second phase.

In addition, the airport will also have a new aircraft apron to serve the new passenger terminal in the near future, while a new Rapid Exit taxiway is scheduled for construction on the current runway between 2030 and 2040.

Once completed, the Abha airport will be able to accommodate 8 million passengers by 2030 and then gradually it will increase the total to more than 13 million passengers by 2054.

According to Matarat, the project will include other facilities such as roads leading to the new passenger terminal, parking spaces, and supporting facilities. Other developments include access roads to the new terminal, a new car park area, and expansions to support facilities such as the electrical substation and sewage treatment plant, it stated.

The deadline for submitting the EoIs was January 31.