Faisal, Emir of Makkah (2nd right), shows Crown Prince Sultan a model of the new King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah, Tuesday. Prince Misha'l Bin Majed, Governor of Jeddah, (1st right) is seen during the inauguration of the project. (SPA photo) JEDDAH: Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz, Minister of Defense and Aviation, and Inspector General laid the foundation stone for the new King Abdul Aziz International Airport project here Tuesday. Saudi Binladin Group is carrying out the project at an estimated construction cost at SR27 billion The Crown Prince said the new airport is a gift from King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, to the citizens and the Guests of Allah. It will be a significant part of the advancement and comprehensive development the Kingdom is witnessing in his prosperous era and it compliments the system of megaprojects being executed throughout the Kingdom, the Crown Prince said. The complex will play a pivotal role in supporting the economic structure and achieving a more advanced life for the citizens who are the focus and key components of development and its goals, he said. “In recent years, the world has witnessed changes in the concept of airports in terms of their objectives, functions and methods of management and operation,” Prince Sultan said. “The project for which we are laying the foundation stone today will enable King Abdul Aziz International Airport to keep pace with these changes and occupy the position it deserves among international airports in general and regional airports in particular. Also, it will be a distinctive entry point for the Kingdom, God willing,” he said. The Crown Prince stressed that executing this giant project requires the collective efforts of all the related authorities, whether government or private. “All should cooperate in completing this project during the specified period to make it one of the edifices of development that we are proud of in our dear nation and one of the prominent landmarks for the advancement enjoyed by the people of the Kingdom, under the leadership of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques,” he said. Crown Prince Sultan prayed to Almighty Allah that the King returns to the country safely after his recovery. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah Region, said refurbishing of the KAAIA is one of the most vital projects in the Kingdom, particularly in Makkah region. “It is important not only because of its gigantic size; its capacity, which will keep pace with the growth in demand for air travel year after year; and its architectural designs, which are comparable to those of the most modern international airports, but also because it boosts the role of the KAAIA, as a pivotal airport and a central hub between the east and west,” Prince Khaled said. He said this project is part of the strategy for developing Makkah region that aims to improve people's lives and compliments the system of projects being executed and those are to be executed. According to the strategy, the Makkah region will witness an urban boom with large, unprecedented projects to improve the area for its residents and visitors, he said. The area's civil aviation-related projects include the new Taif Regional Airport in Al-Qunfudha Governorate and converting the aviation school in Rabigh into a university specializing in aviation sciences that is under preliminary study, he noted. Other projects include expanding and rehabilitating Haj terminals in KAAIA, which has been completed according to the build-to-order system, and has the capacity to serve the increasing number of Haj and Umrah pilgrims during the next 20 years, he said. At a press conference later, Prince Fahd Bin Abdullah Bin Muhammad, Assistant Minister of Defense and Aviation for Civil Aviation, said the new project will be completed in three years. Government authorities must cooperate to execute the project, said Prince Fahd who is also Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA) and Chairman of the Executive Committee and Supervisory Committee for King Abdul Aziz International Airport. He said the new KAIA would play a pioneering role in the region due to its capabilities, including a center for different means of transport – planes, trains and automobiles – and its design flexibility in expansion and accommodating future developments.
