The head of the General Authority of Civil Aviation in Saudi Arabia, Abdulaziz Al-Duailej, confirmed that the privatization of airports is proceeding at a rapid pace, and it is expected that during the next year, all the remaining 22 airports will be transferred to the Airports Holding Company of the authority.
This came on the sidelines of the inauguration ceremony of the Saudi SAL Logistics Services Company, a member of the Saudi Arabian Airlines Corporation, the expansion of its new station at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, yesterday, in the presence of Engineer Saleh Al-Jasser, Minister of Transport and Logistics.
Al-Duailej said, “The General Authority of Civil Aviation, according to the directive, will turn into a legislator and regulator, and all construction, operation and management work will be referred to the Airports Company, and then it will be transferred to the Public Investment Fund, in a move that will be put on the market later.” .
On the investment opportunities in the sector, Al Duailej explained that the aviation sector is promising and the opportunities in it are numerous, whether in aviation, airports, airport operation and management, or in support services including shipping, catering, maintenance and ground services, indicating that the sector is rich and full of investment opportunities for local and international investors.
With regard to the number of applications submitted for investment in the sector, he indicated that the authority has many applications under study related to the establishment of airports, ground services, shipping and all areas related to the sector.
He added that “the privatization has begun vigorous steps, as we have put Abha Airport on the path of privatization and it is in the final technical and economic studies, as well as Taif Airport and Qassim Airport, all of which are projects proposed in the sector.”
