Medina Airport is a convenient point of entry to Saudi Arabia for visitors to the country’s important religious sites and it currently receives more than one million Hajj pilgrims and around four million Umrah travellers a year. These figures are expected to increase significantly in coming years.

The initial master plan for the airport’s development to accommodate these numbers was prepared by Dorsch for GACA, who then invited international consortia of investors and operators to develop the master plan and design the new airport facilities. The intention is that three phases of development, when complete in 2037, will provide facilities with an annual capacity of 16 million passengers.

The first phase of development incorporates a terminal and pier, extensive airfield work including the expansion and rehabilitation of two existing runways, new taxiways and apron for 18 contact stands, and 20 remote stands capable of accommodating Code F aircraft.

The modular design of the 150,000m2 terminal building includes the capacity for an initial increase in passenger numbers to eight million and allows for further expansion without compromising the terminal’s operation.

A large Hajj Plaza sits opposite the new terminal and has six air-conditioned pavilions designed as holding areas for Hajj passengers. The pavilions will relieve pressure on the terminal and regulate passenger flow at peak times. Landside infrastructure includes a new road network, car parks, utility buildings, a mosque, ARFF, housing complex for airport employees and other aviation buildings.

Construction of the first phase completed at the end of 2014 and the initial commercial flights are expected in March 2015. The project team paid particular attention to the environmental impact and sustainability aspects of the development and are delighted that the project has recently achieved Gold certification under the LEED for New Construction Rating System.