King Khalid International Airport (KKIA) in Riyadh will begin implementing its first major strategic transformation plan in more than four decades during the first quarter of 2026, according to Riyadh Airports Company (RAC).
The announcement comes as the Saudi capital undergoes rapid development and positions its aviation sector for significant expansion. The plan forms one of KKIA’s most extensive development initiatives to date, reflecting a comprehensive operational and organisational upgrade aligned with RAC’s strategic vision for the future of Saudi airports.
A central component of the transformation is the reorganisation of operations across KKIA’s existing terminals, whose original designs have evolved since the airport opened more than 40 years ago.
Under the updated arrangement:
• Terminal 5 will be designated for international flights operated by foreign airlines
• Terminals 3 and 4 will be allocated for domestic flights
• Terminals 1 and 2 will continue to serve international flights operated by national airlines
The reorganisation is expected to increase terminal capacity, simplify movement between terminals and reduce waiting times between flights, ultimately improving the overall traveller experience. RAC noted that the exact date of activation will be confirmed once all airport sectors and airlines complete operational readiness checks.
