[gallery size="medium" td_select_gallery_slide="slide" td_gallery_title_input="Taif airport to be ready by 2020, says Prince Khaled" ids="104410,104409,104408"] JEDDAH – Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, emir of Makkah and adviser to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, on Wednesday announced plans to an international airport in Taif and a regional airport in Qunfudah, both in Makkah region. "The Taif International Airport will be no more a dream. It will become a reality as work on the project will start in 68 days and the airport will be ready by the beginning of 2020," Prince Khaled said. "As for Qunfudah Economic Airport, the project's site was handed over to the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) and the authority has started carrying out studies with regard to implementation of the project," he said. Prince Khaled made the remarks while speaking at a meeting of the Taif Airport Committee at his office in Jeddah, the Saud Press Agency reported. Prince Khaled said the modus operandi in the implementation of the Qunfudah airport would be similar to that of the Taif airport. "Once completed, Taif airport will have a capacity to handle 5 million passengers a year, including Haj and Umrah pilgrims," Prince Khaled said. The emir said the airport will be the first mega project to be implemented in Makkah province in line with the Kingdom's Vision 2030. The airport, which will be implemented on an area spreading over 48 million sq. meters, is located 40 north east of Taif city, and close to Souk Okaz. Prince Khaled said the airport project reached the phase of implementation thanks to the great efforts being exerted by the government and private sectors, including the Ministry of Transport, represented by GACA, National Water Company (NWC), and Saudi Electricity Company (SEC). He thanked the Ministry of Transport, which has already started implementing the road leading to the airport, and the Taif Municipality, which has made available land. The new airport was incorporated in the plan for New Taif City along with the University City, technology oasis, Souk Okaz, a residential township and an industrial city. "All these projects have passed their design phases and now started the phase of actual implementation," Prince Khaled said. The emir was briefed on the reports presented by GACA, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs, NWC and SEC with regard to the airport project. The reports showed that work related to infrastructure reached the phase of execution. The emir drew attention to the recommendation in the GACA report that participation of the private sector has expedited the project's implementation. The airport will be the main highlight of the New Taif City whose design is based on "A city within a garden." The city project will be implemented on a total area spreading 1,250 sq. km with a capacity to accommodate 750,000 residents. Plots of land on a total area of 14 sq. km have been allotted to the Ministry of Housing for building the residential township. It is expected that the technology oasis can draw more than 500,000 citizens.
