Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation and the Royal Commission of Jubail and Yanbu (RCJY) are planning a new airport to cater to the Jubail Industrial City and Jubail 2 in the eastern region of the kingdom.

It is understood that the RCJY has commissioned Netherlands-based KPMG to undertake a feasibility study for the airport project, which is likely to be developed as a public-private partnership (PPP).

It is not clear if the airport will cater to both international and domestic flights.

If tendered and successfully developed, the new airport will bring the total number of airports in Saudi Arabia to 28.

The kingdom currently has four international airports and 23 domestic and regional airports. Taif airport, however, will be converted into an international airport, with the BTO contract recently awarded to a team comprising Lebanon’s Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC), Munich Airport, and the local Asyad Holding.

Gaca plans to privatise all airports in the kingdom by 2020.

Apart from the Taif airport PPP, Gaca recently awarded the expansion and redevelopment of airports in Yanbu, Hail and Al-Qassim to a team comprising Turkey’s TAV and local Al-Rajhi Holding Group.

Bahrain’s Gulf International Bank (GIB)  is providing Gaca financial advisory on the four airport PPP projects. Clifford Chance and Hillbrook Partners, both UK-based, are providing legal and technical advisory.