WSP Secures Design Contract for King Fahd International Airport Expansion

Dammam Airports Company (DACO) has signed a design services contract with WSP to support the expansion of King Fahd International Airport (KFIA), the Eastern Province’s main air gateway. The agreement was signed by Eng. Mohammed Al-Hassany, CEO of Dammam Airports, and Dean McGrail, President of WSP for the Middle East and Asia.

Under the contract, WSP will deliver comprehensive design services covering passenger terminal expansions and upgrades, improvements to the airport’s entrance and access roads, baggage handling systems, digital passenger services and terminal wayfinding, as well as enhancements to runway and general aviation facilities and wider operational systems.

The expansion is designed to lift KFIA’s capacity well beyond its current traffic levels. The airport handled 13.7 million passengers in 2025, making it Saudi Arabia’s third-busiest, and the project targets capacity for 19.3 million passengers annually by 2030, rising to 32 million in the long term. Cargo capacity is set to expand to more than 600,000 tonnes a year, with the airport designed to support up to 77 aircraft movements an hour.

Eng. Al-Hassany said the agreement marks an important step in the development journey of King Fahd International Airport, adding that the project aims to deliver a smoother, higher-quality travel experience through modern design and smart technologies while supporting future growth in air travel and cargo.

The design work will also incorporate a sustainability focus, with an emphasis on energy efficiency, reduced environmental impact and infrastructure resilience. It follows a SR1.2 billion package of additional airport infrastructure agreements signed in June 2026, and forms part of the wider push under Saudi Arabia’s Aviation Programme and Vision 2030 to position KFIA as a major regional gateway for the Eastern Province.