The Saudi Arabian government has issued an invitation to investors and airport operating companies for the concession to revamp and operate Abha International Airport (AHB).

The Saudi government is planning to greatly expand AHB, located in the far southwest of the country near the border with Yemen. The project involves building a new passenger terminal targeted for a 2028 completion and related projects, as well as managing the airport for 30 years. Interested parties have until Jan. 31 to submit proposals.

The airport’s current passenger terminal spans 10,500 m² (113,000 ft.²). The new terminal is planned to span 69,400 m² initially, eventually growing to 73,200 m². The revamped airport will feature 20 gates and 41 check-in counters.

The existing airport has the capacity to handle 1.5 million passengers annually. According to Matarat Holding, part of the country’s civil aviation regulator, AHB is expected to handle 8 million passengers by 2030 and 13 million by 2054.

The project will also involve building a new aircraft apron, a taxiway, roads leading to the new terminal and a passenger automobile parking area.

Saudi Arabia envisions the number of passengers using its airports annually rising from around 100 million currently to 330 million by 2030.