The AlUla International Airport terminal expansion project, which increases the airport's annual capacity from 400,000 to 700,000 passengers, has been inaugurated.

Minister of Culture and Governor of the Royal Commission for AlUla Prince Bader bin Abdullah bin Farhan inaugurated the project in the presence of President of the General Authority of Civil Aviation Abdulaziz Al-Duailej and Royal Commission for AlUla CEO Abeer AlAkel, said a Saudi Press Agency report‏. 

The inauguration reflects the commission’s commitment to developing vital infrastructure and strengthening AlUla’s position as a key aviation and logistics hub in northwest Saudi Arabia.

The expansion project forms part of an integrated vision aimed at keeping pace with rapid growth in passenger numbers and the increasing frequency of domestic and international flights, while meeting rising demand from visitors and investors. It further reinforces the airport’s role as a key enabler of tourism and economic development in AlUla.

The Royal Commission for AlUla explained that the project is built around three main pillars: supporting AlUla’s sustainable growth; enhancing operational readiness and improving the passenger experience; and delivering an integrated system that serves visitors, investors, and airlines. The initiative also boosts AlUla’s attractiveness as a promising investment destination in the tourism and aviation sectors, in line with the objectives of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy and Saudi Vision 2030.

The project represents a qualitative transformation in the airport’s infrastructure, with the total terminal building area increasing by about 44 percent from 3,800 sq m to around 5,450 sq m.

The works included comprehensive enhancements to the passenger journey through the integration of smart solutions and technologies, including e-gates, to accelerate procedures and improve service levels. Immigration capacity in the international arrivals hall was also strengthened by increasing the number of passport control counters from four to twelve, ensuring the airport’s readiness to efficiently accommodate future growth in air traffic.