New airport in the pipeline for Riyadh

The development would help facilitate Saudi Arabia’s goal to attract 100 million tourists a year by 2030

As part of Saudi Arabia’s efforts to boost its tourism sector over the next nine years in the lead up 2030, Riyadh could get a new airport, which would serve as a base for a new airline that the kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund is looking to launch.

The Kingdom’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) has said that it plans to invest billions of dollars in the aviation sector. Along with the new airport, the new airline, would serve tourists and business travellers, while existing airline Saudia would focus on religious tourism from its base in Jeddah.

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The project, still in early stages of development, would help Saudi Arabia’s goal to attract 100 million tourists a year by 2030. Opening up the country to visitors is a key part of Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman’s strategy to diversify the economy.

While there has been an easing of some Covid-19 travel restrictions, Saudi Arabia hasn’t reopened for tourists. This year, for the second year in a row, only nationals and residents will be permitted to attend Hajj, which falls next month.