Ramadan operations running smoothly at Jeddah airport: Transport minister

1 / 3
Transport Minister Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, accompanied by civil aviation and airport officials, stressed the effective implementation of plans for the Umrah season during Ramadan 2024 in his inspection visit at the King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah. (Supplied)
2 / 3
Transport Minister Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, accompanied by civil aviation and airport officials, stressed the effective implementation of plans for the Umrah season during Ramadan 2024 in his inspection visit at the King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah. (Supplied)
3 / 3
Transport Minister Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, accompanied by civil aviation and airport officials, stressed the effective implementation of plans for the Umrah season during Ramadan 2024 in his inspection visit at the King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah. (Supplied)
Short Url
Updated 21 March 2024
Follow

Ramadan operations running smoothly at Jeddah airport: Transport minister

  • Minister, officials inspect King Abdulaziz International Airport
  • Over 5.4m passengers arrived, departed from Feb. 11 to March 20

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s Transport Minister Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser on Wednesday inspected Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport to ensure operations were running smoothly for Ramadan.

Al-Jasser, who is also chairman of the General Authority of Civil Aviation, said the aim is “to provide top-notch services that would enhance guests’ comfort and convenience.”

More than 27 government and security bodies are involved in operations at the airport, he was quoted as saying by the Saudi Press Agency.

From the beginning of the month of Sha’ban (Feb. 11) until Ramadan 10 (March 20), KAIA recorded the arrival and departure of over 5.4 million passengers on 30,572 flights. The airport’s busiest day was on Sha’ban 21 last year (March 13, 2023), involving 157,800 passengers.

Al-Jasser was accompanied by several officials including GACA President Abdulaziz Al-Duailej; CEO Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Mughlooth of MATARAT Holding, which oversees the development of Saudi Arabia’s airports; Chairman Raed Al-Mudaiheem of the Jeddah Airports company’s board of directors; and Jeddah Airports CEO Mazen Johar.

He toured Terminal 1, the Northern Terminal and the Hajj Terminal Complex.

The inspection began with an overview of the baggage-handling area, followed by a visit to the air-conditioned lounges, which can accommodate 6,000 passengers per hour.

Al-Jasser then proceeded to the Northern Terminal to review the sorting area, which spans 1,430 square meters, and which has a waiting area for 522 passengers.

At Terminal 1, the minister inspected the 24,000-square-meter sorting area, the waiting area for 1,800 passengers per hour, and parking facilities for 83 buses. He also visited the Operations and Control Monitoring Center, the automated passenger transport facility, and various lounges.


Diriyah in 2025 — A year of exceptional achievement

Updated 12 sec ago
Follow

Diriyah in 2025 — A year of exceptional achievement

  • Jerry Inzerillo: In 2025, the project reached a pivotal stage, transitioning from laying foundations to large-scale delivery, marking a clear shift from vision to execution
  • Partnerships with The Helicopter Co. and Kakao Mobility advanced smart aerial and ground transportation solutions

JEDDAH: Under the theme “Vision to Reality,” Diriyah has moved beyond aspiration in 2025, translating long-held plans into a tangible, lived experience, according to Jerry Inzerillo, group chief executive officer of Diriyah Co.

Throughout the year, Diriyah Company, the Saudi Public Investment Fund entity developing the Diriyah giga-project, advanced from planning and preparation into delivery. Contracts and agreements exceeding SR24 billion ($6.4 billion) marked a pivotal transition from the establishment phase to early operations. 

Inzerillo told Arab News: “At Diriyah, progress is measured by what is delivered on the ground against the plans we set. In 2025, the project reached a pivotal stage, transitioning from laying foundations to large-scale delivery, marking a clear shift from vision to execution. 

“Together, these achievements reinforce Diriyah’s role as one of the Kingdom’s most important national transformation projects, with growing impact locally and internationally. We remain committed to advancing with responsibility and purpose, transforming ambition into reality and creating a destination that honors history while shaping the future.”

In 2025, Diriyah Co. signed eight major contracts, alongside 16 agreements, reinforcing delivery momentum across multiple development streams. International recognition also continued to grow, with Diriyah earning prestigious global awards and securing positions in influential international rankings, Inzerillo said.

Infrastructure development played a central role in shaping the visitor experience. New road networks were delivered to ensure smooth connectivity between historic districts and contemporary developments.

The company also inaugurated two high-capacity electricity transmission substations, securing the power required to support residents, visitors and a growing portfolio of residential, hospitality, educational and cultural assets. 

Collaboration with Majid Al-Futtaim Group introduced a portfolio of global brands, positioning Diriyah Square as a distinctive shopping and entertainment destination, Inzerillo said. At the same time, Diriyah’s partnerships with the Saudi Contractors Authority and the Saudi Tennis Federation embedded sports, events and professional initiatives into the fabric of urban life. 

Diriyah’s vision extended into the future of mobility and design, Inzerillo said. Partnerships with The Helicopter Co. and Kakao Mobility advanced smart aerial and ground transportation solutions, designed to make movement across the city faster, more efficient and integrated.

Diriyah Company, in collaboration with Pantone, unveiled “Diriyah Tan,” a custom color inspired by the city’s historic mud architecture. More than a visual signature, the color captures Diriyah’s identity, bridging its origins with its contemporary expression.

Diriyah’s excellence was also recognized at the highest international level, Inzerillo said. In 2025, TIME magazine named Diriyah Company among the World’s 100 Most Influential Companies, acknowledging the project’s cultural, economic and urban impact.