Riyadh- Saudi Transport Minister Sulaiman bin Abdullah al-Hamdan signed contracts with international and local companies to build and operate four airports in Jeddah, Ta’if, Qassim, Ha’il and Yanbu.

Chairman of the Board of Directors of Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) said that partnering with the private sector will contribute to the upgrading of airports just like what happened at the Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah.

Hamdan explained that these contracts act as an extension to achieve the objectives of the Commission in raising the level of services provided at airports.

He pointed out that these partnerships will contribute to increasing foreign investments in the Kingdom and raise the economic activity and quality of services provided at the Kingdom’s airports, stressing the importance of private sector participation in supporting the development process and achieving the strategic objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.

The agreements stipulate the operation of King Abdulaziz International Airport with Singapore’s Changi Airport Group after the latter was awarded the contract to operate the King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah for up to 20 years.

The contract to operate, develop and manage Ta’if International Airport with Asyad Holding includes Lebanon’s Consolidated Contractors Co. (CCC) and Munich Airport.

However, the contracts of Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz Airport in Qassim, Ha’il International Airport and Prince Abdulmohsen bin Abdulaziz Airport in Yanbu include developing, operating and managing the airports with Al-Rajhi Holding Group and Turkey’s TAV Airports Holding.

For his part, the Saudi Minister confirmed that the signing of these contracts come within the strategy of GACA in partnership with the private sector to activate its role, enhance its contribution to airport projects, increase its investment opportunities in the sector to provide luxurious services for passengers in accordance with the latest international standards, and to build, manage and develop the basic equipment of the air transport sector according to the latest international systems.