The Jeddah Airports Company has intensified efforts to accelerate the future expansion of King Abdulaziz International Airport through high-level strategic discussions with Singapore’s Surbana Jurong Group.
Eng. Mazen bin Mohammed Johar, Chief Executive Officer of Jeddah Airports Company, held a strategic meeting with Sean Chiao, Surbana Jurong Group CEO, to explore opportunities for expanding bilateral cooperation and strengthening long-term partnership frameworks.
The meeting comes as Jeddah Airports advances a major transformation strategy designed to position King Abdulaziz International Airport among the world’s leading aviation hubs.
Central to the company’s vision is the goal of increasing the airport’s annual passenger handling capacity to more than 90 million travelers by 2030.
During the discussions, both sides examined ways to leverage Surbana Jurong’s international expertise in the execution and management of large-scale infrastructure and aviation projects.
The Singapore-based group is widely recognized for its global experience in urban development, engineering consultancy, and airport infrastructure delivery, making it a strategic partner for Saudi Arabia’s rapidly evolving aviation sector.
A significant focus of the meeting centered on human capital development and the empowerment of Saudi talent in specialized sectors, including engineering, infrastructure planning, and project management.
The two parties discussed launching dedicated training and development initiatives through Surbana Jurong Academy programs, alongside professional mentorship opportunities for Saudi engineers and participation in international airport projects.
The initiatives are intended to enhance knowledge transfer, strengthen local expertise, and build a new generation of Saudi professionals capable of leading future aviation and infrastructure projects in line with international standards.
Image Courtesy: Jeddah Airports | Cropped by GBN
The discussions also addressed the governance structure for future joint initiatives, including the establishment of integrated working teams with clearly defined roles, responsibilities, and operational frameworks to ensure efficient execution and oversight of upcoming programs and projects.
In addition, both parties explored broader avenues for future collaboration, including preparations toward signing a memorandum of understanding that would further institutionalize the strategic partnership and support long-term cooperation objectives.
The partnership discussions reflect Jeddah Airports’ wider strategy of expanding international alliances to enhance operational efficiency, infrastructure readiness, and global connectivity.
The company aims to connect Jeddah with 150 international destinations by 2030 while increasing air cargo handling capacity to 2.5 million tons annually and accommodating 15 million transit passengers.
