KAIA targets 90 million passengers annually as Saudi-Singapore infrastructure ties deepen.
Jeddah — Jeddah Airports Company (JEDCO) has held high-level talks with Singapore’s Surbana Jurong Group to fast-track King Abdulaziz International Airport’s (KAIA) expansion, a centrepiece of Vision 2030.
JEDCO CEO Eng. Mazen bin Mohammed Johar and Surbana Jurong Group CEO Sean Chiao discussed deepening cooperation on mega-project delivery, according to a JEDCO statement via Zawya. “We are intensifying our partnership to build a world-class gateway that accommodates over 90 million passengers a year,” Johar said in the release.
Surbana Jurong is already deeply involved. MEED reports the consultancy manages more than 100 capital projects worth SR3 billion ($800 million) to boost KAIA’s annual capacity from 29 million to 114 million passengers by 2030, targeting smoother journeys for domestic travellers and Hajj and Umrah pilgrims.
JEDCO’s wider strategy also aims to connect Jeddah to 150 global destinations, process 2.5 million tons of cargo, and handle 15 million transit passengers annually, Zawya notes.
Talent development featured prominently. Both sides explored specialised programmes through Surbana Jurong Academy to train Saudi engineers and provide mentorship on international projects. “We are committed to equipping local talent with future-ready skills,” Chiao stated, per the JEDCO release. Governance discussions also covered joint working teams with clear mandates and a forthcoming memorandum of understanding.
Surbana Jurong’s Saudi portfolio extends beyond aviation. MEED highlights its roles in Red Sea Global’s Amaala masterplan, Trojena dams, Oxagon, King Salman International Airport, and the North-South Phosphate Railway. Headquartered in Singapore and wholly owned by Temasek Holdings, the group employs 16,000 people across 120 offices in over 40 countries, drawing on more than 70 years of project delivery, according to Singapore’s Ministry of Education.
References
Zawya, “Jeddah Airports Explores Future Airport Expansion Plans with Singapore’s Surbana Jurong,” 19 May 2026. https://www.zawya.com/en/press-release/companies-news/jeddah-airports-explores-future-airport-expansion-plans-with-singapores-surbana-jurong-b6i7nb7g
MEED, “Surbana Jurong to Lead Jeddah Airport Expansion,” 20 May 2026. https://guest.meed.com/surbana-jurong-to-lead-jeddah-airport-expansion/
Ministry of Education Singapore, Surbana Jurong Consultants Pte Ltd profile. https://www.moe.gov.sg/sgis/sponsoring-organisations/industries/built-environment/surbana-jurong-consultants-pte-ltd
