Work on Saudi Arabia's new Taif International Airport will start in February next year, and is expected to be ready by the beginning of 2020, said a report.

Makkah Governer Prince Khaled Al Faisal, who is also the adviser to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, said the airport would be the first mega project of the kingdom’s Vision 2030 to be completed in the Makkah province, according to a report in Saudi Gazette.

“The Taif International Airport will be no more a dream. It will become a reality as work on the project will start in 68 days and the airport will be ready by the beginning of 2020,” Prince Khaled said.

Plans for a new airport in Taif were first revealed in 2014, but not much progress has been made since then.

Spred over an area of 48 million sq m, Taif airport will have the capacity to handle five million passengers a year once completed.

The new airport is part of plans for New Taif City, which includes University City, technology oasis, Souk Okaz, a residential township and an industrial city.

“All these projects have passed their design phases and have now started the phase of actual implementation,” Prince Khaled said.

He also said that the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has commenced studies for a regional airport in Qunfudah in the Makkah province.