Saudi Arabia has begun construction on what is set to become the world’s largest airport. The new hub, which will be named King Salman International Airport, is scheduled to open in 2030 and will cover an area equal to 14,000 football fields.

The massive project is being built around the existing King Khalid Airport in Riyadh and was first announced back in November 2022. The mammoth site will span 57 square kilometres (22 square miles), of which 12 square kilometres (4.6 square miles) will be devoted to shopping malls. According to Greek Reporter, the site underscores the Saudi government’s ambitious plan to make the facility a global travel and commercial hub.

The King Khalid Airport currently operates with two parallel runways, and under the new plans, this infrastructure will be increased to six. Passenger traffic is projected to rise sharply, rising to an estimated 120m travellers annually by 2030 before increasing to 150m by 2050, and the new runways will help facilitate the increase in travel.

Aircraft movements are also expected to grow significantly in the future and it is expected to climb from 211,000 today to more than one million take-offs and landings per year once the new airport is fully operational. The airport’s design was created by Foster + Partners, and the estimated cost of the project will be $30bn (£22bn).

The British architecture firm responsible for the project’s design is renowned for other high-profile projects such as Wembley Stadium, the Battersea Roof Gardens, and the National Memorial to Queen Elizabeth II. In May, US-based companies Bechtel and Parsons were awarded major contracts to oversee elements of the expansion, according to Engineering News-Record. Their involvement highlights the scale of international collaboration driving the project forward to make the plans a reality.

Saudi officials said the airport will feature multiple landing areas, landscaped indoor and outdoor spaces. Expansive windows for clear views of the runways will be an additional feature that will provide an interesting vista for passengers waiting to board.

According to the Saudi Press Agency, the design emphasizes a “seamless customer journey,” combining efficiency with comfort for travelers passing through one of the busiest aviation hubs of the future. The new King Salman International Airport is a centerpiece of what has been coined Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. This project is the kingdom’s sweeping vision to diversify its economy and reduce reliance on its oil reserves.

This has seen the government develop other major projects such as Qiddiya, an entertainment city outside of the nation’s capital which is expected to include a Six Flags theme park among several proposed record-breaking attractions.

Saudi leaders aim to transform Riyadh into a global crossroads for travel, commerce, and leisure, with the new airport planned to serve as the project’s flagship location. The airport will provide the first impression for anyone landing in the country and is seen as a vital jewel in the crown of the project’s ambitions.