UK-based architect Foster + Partners has won the competition to design the masterplan for King Salman International airport in Riyadh.

The airport project was launched by Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud in late November. If completed on time in 2030, it will become the largest airport in the world in terms of passenger capacity.

The aim is for the airport to accommodate up to 120 million passengers by 2030 and 185 million passengers by 2050. For cargo, the goal is to process 3.5 million tonnes a year by 2050.

It will cover an area of about 57 square kilometres, allowing for six parallel runways, and will include the existing terminals at King Khalid International airport.

The project will also include 12 sq km of airport support facilities, residential and recreational facilities, retail outlets and other logistics real estate.

It was announced that Foster + Partners had been selected to design the airport serving The Red Sea Project in October 2019.