foster + partners: winning entry for king salman international airport

first look at the king salman international airport design

Foster + Partners has won a competition to design the masterplan for the King Salman International Airport in Riyadh, which will boost the city’s position as a global logistics hub, stimulate transport, trade, and tourism, and act as a bridge linking the East with the West.

The airport is expected to be one of the world’s largest, covering an area of approximately 57 sq km, making way for six parallel runways and including the existing terminals named after King Khalid. It will also offer 12 sq km of airport support, residential and recreational facilities, as well as retail outlets, and other logistics real estate. More importantly, it aims to accommodate up to 120 million travelers by 2030 and 185 million travelers, with the capacity to process 3.5 million tons of cargo, by 2050.

aerial view of the masterplan | all images © Foster + Partners

foster + partners’ sustainable, human-centric design

‘Looking forward to the future, the new King Salman International Airport reimagines the traditional terminal as a single concourse loop, served by multiple entrances. The terminal is very much of its place and connects passengers to the sensory experiences of the city, with natural elements, tempered light and state-of-the-art facilities,’ comments Luke Fox, Head of Studio at Foster + Partners.

From picturesque airside departure dining to immersive landscaped corridors, the airport will become an aerotropolis centered around a seamless customer journey, world-class, efficient operations, and innovation. Riyadh’s identity and the Saudi culture will also be considered in the design to ensure a unique travel experience for visitors and transit travelers.

terminal aerial view

Finally, with sustainability at its core, the King Salman International Airport will achieve LEED Platinum certification by incorporating cutting-edge green initiatives into its design and will be powered by renewable energy. Seif A. Bahaa Eldin, Senior Partner at Foster + Partners, concludes: ‘This visionary development will play an important role in shaping the city into a global hub of creativity and innovation.’

airside taxi to aircraft stand