Riyadh, January 2024: Following the approval of the Supervisory Committee for Privatization in the Transport and Logistic Services Sector, MATARAT Holding Company and The National Center for Privatization & PPP (NCP) have jointly unveiled the phase of expression of interest (EOI) for Abha International Airport project in Aseer region, This comes in light of the combined efforts of the various government entities including Ministry of Transport and Logistics Services, General Authority of Civil Aviation, Aseer Development Authority. The (EoI) aims to attract competent private sector entities, in accordance with the Private Sector Participation (PSP) Law. The selected parties will be engaged in long-term agreements under the PPP model, specifically encompassing the areas of construction of a new terminal and associated facilities, and operation of the airport for a duration of 30 years.
The project will be implemented based on the new Abha Airport's master plan announced by the Crown Prince, which sets out the architectural identity aligned with the heritage of Aseer Region, aiming to become a prominent landmark in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The airport is strategically located among the Kingdom's airports, serving as a link between domestic and international airports, The airport is expected to accommodate up to 8 million passengers by 2030 and exceeding 13 million passengers by the year 2054. It is expected to be ready by 2028, with construction taking place in two to three phases. The first phase of the new terminal building will have a total area of 69,400 m2, expected to expand to 73,200 m2 in the second phase. In addition, the airport also will have a new aircraft apron to serve the new passenger terminal in the near future, a new Rapid Exit Taxiway is scheduled for construction on the current runway between 2030 and 2040. the airport 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.
The project is considered one of the public-private partnership (PPP) project, and is aligned with the goals of Vision 2030, National Transport and Logistics Strategy, Civil Aviation Authority strategy, and "Qimam and Shem" Strategy to Develop Aseer Region. Developing the transportation sector in Aseer significantly leads to attracting more passengers, promoting regional and neighboring areas' growth, improving the overall travel experience and services across the transportation sector, promoting integration within the logistics sector and adopting modern transportation methods to support the Kingdom's overall development.
NCP has extended an invitation to investors and airport operator service providers, both locally and internationally, to gain insights into the project by accessing the EOI document on its website. The phase of submitting expressions of interest is set to conclude on Wednesday, 3:00 PM, 31 /01/ 2024.
