King Salman Int'l Airport eyes 3.5m-tonne cargo goal by 2050

King Salman International Airport in Riyadh is being developed to handle up to 3.5 million tonnes of cargo annually by 2050, as Saudi Arabia expands its aviation and logistics infrastructure. The airport project is currently progressing with construction work across its airfield and terminal facilities.

The planned cargo capacity is expected to support the growth of air freight operations in Saudi Arabia by providing additional handling capacity for trade and logistics flows. The development will help strengthen Riyadh’s role in regional supply chains and improve connectivity for cargo movement.

The 57-sq-km airport project is being developed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and includes dedicated aviation infrastructure alongside other facilities. Construction activities are being carried out by contractors including Almabani, FCC Construcción, and CarbonCure.

The airport is expected to begin initial terminal operations in 2029. Once completed, it will include six parallel runways and infrastructure designed to support growing aviation demand, including cargo operations.

Abdulaziz Al Duailej, President of Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation, visited the project site to review construction updates and the progress of ongoing execution work.