The Red Sea Development Company (TRSDC) has awarded its largest contract yet for construction work on the project’s airport.

A joint venture of local contractors Nesma & Partners Contracting Company and Almabani General Contractors was awarded an estimated $250m contract covering the airside infrastructure. TRDSC did not confirm the value of the contract.

“The Red Sea Development Company is making huge progress in the development of a world-leading destination and by awarding our largest contract to date, we take another significant step in this direction, while demonstrating our ongoing commitment to creating opportunities within the Saudi Arabian construction sector,” said John Pagano, CEO of TRDSC.

The contract includes the design and building of a 3,700-metre runway, a seaplane runway, taxiways and pavement works, aeronautical navigational aids, aerodrome ground lighting, airside utilities, helipads, roads and associated buildings.

MEED reported in February that contractors had submitted bids for the construction contract.

TRSDC awarded the design contract for the airport to the UK’s Foster + Partners in October last year. Canada’s WSP is working as a sub consultant to Foster + Partners for the engineering.

The Red Sea Project airport is due for completion in 2022 and is expected to serve an estimated 1 million tourists a year with a schedule of domestic and international flights, and a peak of 900 passengers an hour. The airport has been designed so that passengers can access the resorts on the development as seamlessly and as efficiently as possible.

The development is planned to welcome its first guests by the end of 2022. In addition to the dedicated airport, the first phase of the development will include up to 16 hotels offering 3,000 hotel rooms across five islands and two inland sites, as well as commercial, retail and leisure facilities and other infrastructure. When fully complete in 2030, the destination will deliver up to 8,000 hotel rooms across 22 islands and six inland sites.