Saudi to Establish First International Airport in Makkah
By Abdulrazaq Auwal
Saudi Arabia has approved plan for the establishment of the first international airport to serve Makkah al-Mukarramah.
This was disclosed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites (RCMC), Saleh Al-Rasheed, during an interview with Harvard Business Review Arabia.
Stating that the landmark development is aimed at transforming access to Islam’s holiest city and easing the movement of millions of pilgrims annually.
He confirmed that feasibility studies for the project have been completed, with strategic, economic and investment frameworks already approved.
According to him, the commission is set to engage private sector stakeholders to determine a sustainable funding and operational model for the airport, which will be built to full international specifications.
Strategic Shift in Pilgrimage Logistics
At present, international pilgrims, including tens of thousands from Nigeria arrive through King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah before undertaking a road journey of approximately 80 to 90 kilometres to reach Makkah. The process has long posed logistical challenges, particularly during peak Hajj periods.
The proposed airport is expected to reduce travel time and streamline the pilgrimage process, positioning Saudi Arabia to better manage rising pilgrim volumes under its Vision 2030 agenda.
Location and Religious Considerations
While authorities have not announced a specific site, they assured that the airport will not be located within the Haram area, in line with longstanding religious restrictions that prohibit flights over the Kaaba.
Industry projections and earlier government plans suggest the Al-Faisaliyah corridor; situated between Makkah and Jeddah as a likely host location.
The area is being developed as a large-scale urban extension incorporating transport, administrative and economic infrastructure.
No Timeline Yet
According to the authorities, despite the policy approval, the project remains in its early development phase, with no construction timeline or final investment structure.
However, authorities indicate that the airport will be integrated with key transport systems, including the Haramain High-Speed Rail network, to ensure seamless connectivity to the holy sites.
Outlook
The initiative underscores Saudi Arabia’s long-term strategy to expand pilgrim capacity, targeting up to 30 million Umrah visitors annually.
For Nigeria and other major pilgrim-sending countries, the project signals a potential shift toward more efficient, direct access to Makkah, reducing travel bottlenecks and improving overall pilgrimage experience.
If executed as planned, the airport will represent a structural upgrade to the Kingdom’s Hajj and Umrah logistics ecosystem.
