Key Takeaways
• Bechtel will build three terminals at KSIA in Riyadh, with completion expected by 2030.
• KSIA aims for LEED Platinum certification and plans to handle 185 million passengers annually by 2050.
• Six runways and vast facilities will make KSIA the world’s largest airport, boosting jobs and global mobility.
On May 13, 2025, a major step in global aviation and infrastructure took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦. During a visit by President Trump, Bechtel, a well-known engineering and construction company from the United States 🇺🇸, signed an important agreement with the King Salman International Airport Development Company. The main goal of this deal is for Bechtel to help build three brand new terminals at the future King Salman International Airport, also known as KSIA, in Riyadh. This partnership connects Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦 and the United States 🇺🇸 through big infrastructure plans and signals long-term growth for Riyadh as a city.
Bechtel has had a long history of helping to build large, complex projects in Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦, including much of the new Riyadh Metro. With this new agreement, they now take on the responsibility to guide, coordinate, and make sure the new terminals for KSIA are delivered smoothly.
Let’s break down what this all means, not just for Riyadh, but for travelers, workers, and the immigration world as a whole.
Three Terminals for a Modern World
At the center of this new agreement are three specific airport terminals:
- A terminal specifically for commercial carriers (these are the regular airlines you might fly on for business or vacations)
- Terminal 6 for low-cost carriers (these are budget airlines, offering lower ticket prices and sometimes less service)
– A brand new private aviation terminal with its own hangars (this space is set aside for private jets and smaller, private flights)
Bechtel’s main job is to oversee the design and building of these terminals. They will use what they have learned from past projects across the world to make sure these terminals are modern and can serve millions of people from different countries and backgrounds. The focus is not only on handling large numbers of passengers but also on offering a smooth and pleasant experience for everyone—whether you are flying for business, holiday, or as a private traveler.
One special goal for Bechtel and its partners is to build these terminals in a way that is friendly to the environment. The plan is for all three new terminals to earn LEED Platinum certification. This is the highest level a building can reach according to international green building standards. It means using less energy, saving water, and creating less pollution, making the airport safer and more comfortable for everyone who uses it.
The Making of the World’s Largest Airport
When people say “King Salman International Airport will be the largest airport in the world,” it’s important to look at the facts behind that statement. According to the project team, when all the new facilities are finished by 2030, KSIA will be able to manage up to 185 million passengers every year by the year 2050. To put that in perspective, today’s busiest airports handle about 100 million passengers each year. KSIA plans to almost double it.
Six parallel runways will allow many planes to land and take off at the same time. This will save time and allow airlines to add more flights, connecting Riyadh to destination cities across the globe. In addition, the airport will be set up to move up to 3.5 million tons of cargo every year—making Riyadh a key hub for shipping goods in the Middle East and beyond.
The land covered by KSIA is also impressive. The main area will be about 57 square kilometers, which is almost the size of a small city. Another 12 square kilometers will be set aside for things like airport support buildings, places for people to live, shops, and even spaces for recreation. This means that KSIA will not just be an airport—it will be a major community center and economic driver for Riyadh.
Project Timeline and the Team Behind KSIA
KSIA is set to be completed and start full operations by 2030. But getting there takes teamwork, careful planning, and special knowledge from big companies all over the world.
Here are the main groups involved:
- Bechtel: Managing the delivery of the three new terminals. This means making sure the building and designs are finished on time and meet the highest standards.
- Foster + Partners: A design company from the United Kingdom 🇬🇧, chose in 2023 to come up with the overall masterplan for the new airport site.
- Jacobs: Another well-known engineering company, this one is handling the technical engineering work for the project.
- Parsons: A US 🇺🇸-based company, picked to help with big parts of the airport, especially the runways and connections to roads and other transportation.
This international team shows just how global the project is. Workers, engineers, and support staff will come from many places, which means a boost for global mobility, international hiring, and cross-border partnerships. The mix of cultures, skills, and language will help the airport meet the needs of international travelers.
King Salman International Airport: A Boost for Riyadh and Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦
Building such a huge airport is a big step toward Saudi Arabia’s 🇸🇦 Vision 2030 plan. Vision 2030 is a national plan to make the Saudi economy less dependent on oil and to grow other areas like tourism, trade, and technology.
KSIA fits this plan well because:
- It gives Riyadh more power as a global connection point, with more direct flights to cities all over the world
- It will help Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦 bring in more tourists, foreign workers, and business travelers
- It will provide thousands of jobs, both during the building phase and once the airport is open
- It will create new areas for housing and shopping, helping to develop the local economy
Darren Mort, President of Bechtel’s Infrastructure Business, said KSIA is “a landmark project that will reshape Riyadh and enhance the lives and communities it serves.” The airport is seen as a key force for economic growth in Riyadh and across the region.
As reported by VisaVerge.com, KSIA is much more than a travel hub—it’s a sign of Saudi Arabia’s 🇸🇦 efforts to open up its borders, encourage people to visit, and make it easier for the world to do business with Riyadh.
Bechtel’s Track Record in Global Aviation
When it comes to building airports, few companies have done as much as Bechtel. Their long list of achievements includes helping create some of the world’s largest and busiest airports:
- Hamad International Airport in Qatar 🇶🇦
- Dubai International Airport in the UAE 🇦🇪
- London City Airport in the UK 🇬🇧
- Western Sydney International Airport in Australia 🇦🇺
With more than 300 successful projects in Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦 alone, Bechtel brings deep knowledge of how to work on complex and time-sensitive projects. Their understanding of airport needs means they can plan carefully for security, passenger flow, and comfort—all things that matter to travelers, airport staff, and security officials.
The company’s experience with the Riyadh Metro, which recently opened, shows that Bechtel can handle projects that change how millions of people move about the city. In airport projects, the stakes are even higher because every airline, traveler, and logistics company depends on things running smoothly around the clock.
What Does KSIA Mean for Immigration and Global Mobility?
For government officials, airport workers, and travelers, King Salman International Airport will change a lot of things. Here’s how:
- For Immigrants and Travelers: With more flights and more destinations, people will find it easier to come to Riyadh—for work, for school, or to visit family and friends. The new terminals will be built to keep security strong while making it quicker and easier for travelers and immigrants to enter the country.
- For Businesses: Companies wanting to hire workers from other countries or send staff overseas will benefit from better airport connections. Riyadh’s new airport makes it possible to shorten travel times and open up new markets. As more international companies enter Riyadh, you can expect more opportunities for global hiring.
- For Customs and Border Officials: Handling tens of millions of travelers every year means more planning for security, immigration checks, and customs. New technology, smart lanes, and sustainable design features will help keep things safe and smooth.
- For Educational Institutions: International students and teachers will find it easier to move between countries, making Riyadh a more welcoming city for cultural and academic exchange.
In a world where more and more people move, travel, or work across borders, KSIA is designed to manage this increased flow, helping both government and private organizations improve their services.
The Long-Term Impact: Jobs, Growth, and Opportunity
With completion set for 2030, the KSIA project will create thousands of construction jobs in the next few years. Later, when the airport is open, even more jobs will be available—for airlines, shops, security, maintenance, and other airport services.
For Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦, the growth of KSIA means:
- A big increase in tourism, trade, and international flights
- A need for more skilled workers and experts from other countries
- New training programs, education, and upskilling for local workers
The airport’s large cargo area means new business chances for importers, exporters, and companies that handle goods moving around the world. This, in turn, could spur new rules and simpler processes for goods and people entering the country.
The push for sustainable design—shown by the aim for LEED Platinum—also signals a new era for construction in the region, one where the environment matters just as much as speed and cost.
Broader Context: A New Era for Saudi Travel and Immigration
The success of King Salman International Airport, and partners like Bechtel, will likely influence other countries and companies looking to modernize their own airports or make travel easier. As airports get bigger and more complex, they must think not just about planes and runways, but about making the whole travel experience better—from immigration checks to baggage claim.
For people considering a move to Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦—as a worker, a student, or a tourist—the growing ease of flying to and from Riyadh may well influence their decision. Easier, faster travel means less stress, better jobs, and more time for family or business.
To learn more about the official plans and services offered at King Salman International Airport, including future updates about visa and customs procedures, readers can visit the official government page for King Salman International Airport.
Summary and Next Steps
The agreement between Bechtel and the King Salman International Airport Development Company marks a major chapter in the story of Riyadh. With the building of three new terminals at the King Salman International Airport, people from around the world will find new reasons to visit, work, and do business in Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦.
By aiming for high standards in construction and environmental care, and making it easier for people and goods to move across borders, this project could set new directions for airports everywhere. As work moves forward, all eyes will be on Riyadh—to see how this new gateway shapes travel, job opportunities, and the future of global mobility in the region.
Learn Today
LEED Platinum certification → The highest international green building standard, recognizing buildings that use less energy, conserve water, and produce less pollution.
Terminal → A dedicated area in an airport where passengers check-in, board flights, and go through security and immigration procedures.
Runway → A long strip of land at an airport that airplanes use for landing and take-off during operations.
Global Mobility → The ability for people, businesses, and goods to move easily between countries due to open borders and enhanced infrastructure.
Vision 2030 → Saudi Arabia’s national plan to diversify its economy by focusing on sectors like tourism, technology, and trade beyond oil.
This Article in a Nutshell
The Bechtel agreement to build three new terminals at Riyadh’s King Salman International Airport paves the way for record-breaking aviation growth. With advanced sustainability targets and a massive capacity, KSIA will revolutionize air travel, create jobs, and open Saudi Arabia further to immigration, tourism, and global business.
— By VisaVerge.com
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