Saudi Arabia’s Matarat Holding, through the National Centre for Privatisation & PPP (NCP), has invited firms to express interest in bidding for a contract to develop and operate a new international airport in Taif in the country’s Mecca province. The new Taif International airport will be located 21 kilometres southeast of the existing Taif airport, with a capacity to accommodate 2.5 million passengers by 2030. Matarat and NCP expect to receive expressions of interest from companies by 10 January 2025. The invitation is open to interested private sector entities via a public-private partnership (PPP) model under a 30-year build-transfer-operate (BTO) contract, including the construction period. The BTO project scope includes the new airport. The proposed design features a runway with a full-length parallel taxiway connecting to a single commercial apron. The scope includes facility buildings, utility networks, car parks and access roads, as well as provisions for additional expansions to meet future subsystem requirements. The new Taif International airport is expected to meet the projected increase in demand by 2055 and contribute to the economic development of Taif city and its surrounding areas, in line with the kingdom’s National Aviation Strategy. It is also expected to meet the needs of Umrah pilgrims as a viable alternative within the region’s multi-airport system, which includes King Abdulaziz Airport in Jeddah, Prince Mohammed Bin Abdulaziz Airport in Medina and Prince Abdulmohsen Bin Abdulaziz Airport in Yanbu. (ICE RIYADH)

Fonte notizia: Meed