The $1.5bn construction contract for the first phase of the expansion of Medina International airport is expected to be awarded by the end of the year.

Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation prequalified eight companies to bid on the project in June 2010. The deadline to submit bids is 5 June (MEED 25:4:11).

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), part of the Washington-based World Bank, is acting as lead adviser on the public-private partnership (PPP) development of Medina airport.

The first phase involves building airside and landside facilities at the airport under a long-term concession.  The expansion will increase its passenger handling capacity to 14 million people a year.