Saudi Arabia is spending SR2.5 billion ($666.7 million) to expand the kingdom's airports, the state news-agency SPA reported on Sunday.

'These projects include the development, creation and expansion of 23 airports, locally, that will serve around 9 million travellers annually,' SPA stated.

The projects include the creation of a new SR20 million airport in Taif, located on the Western mountains, as well as a SR300 million expansion of the Najran airport in the south to be completed next year.

Saudi Arabia, the largest Arab economy, boosted its spending on infrastructure, education and healthcare last year in order to stimulate the economy during the global financial crisis.

The country has vowed to spend more than $400 billion as part of its plans to diversify the economy and upgrade its infrastructure, creating more jobs for its growing population of 18 million Saudis.-Reuters