Saudi Arabia has approved the development of a new international airport in Mecca, a move expected to significantly improve access to one of the world’s most important religious destinations.
The project will allow pilgrims to fly directly into Islam’s holiest city, which receives more than one million international visitors each year for Hajj and Umrah. At present, most visitors arrive through King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, about 100 kilometres away, before completing the journey by road.
The airport plan forms part of a broader infrastructure effort designed to improve mobility in and around Mecca, including metro development connecting the city and nearby holy sites.
For decades, Mecca’s mountainous geography complicated aviation planning because of turbulence and visibility concerns. But recent advances in infrastructure design and operational technology appear to have made the project viable. Saudi authorities have also been testing new mobility concepts, including autonomous aerial taxis for pilgrim transport as well as emergency and medical logistics.
The project has been confirmed by the Royal Commission for the City of Makkah and the Holy Sites and is expected to be delivered with private-sector involvement to international standards. In comments to Harvard Business Review Arabia, RCMC chief executive Saleh Al-Rasheed said the strategic, economic and investment direction for Mecca Airport had now been approved.
