Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has contracted Singapore-based company Changi Airports International (CAI) to operate the new King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah.

CAI has secured the licence to operate the new airport for a period of 20 years.

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Saudi Arabia Transport Minister Suleiman bin Abdullah Al-Hamdan said that the King Abdulaziz International Airport site project is approximately 88% complete.

Launched in January 2011, the ongoing project is slated to be finished at the end of 2017, reported Arab News.

The airport is expected to begin operations on an experimental basis from mid-2018.

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"Awarding the licence to a foreign operator does not mean the exclusion of the nationals or depriving new jobs opportunities as the ultimate goal is to run all airports, by the nationals."

In a statement posted on Saudi Press Agency, Al-Hamdan said: “Awarding the licence to a foreign operator does not mean the exclusion of the nationals or depriving new jobs opportunities as the ultimate goal is to run all airports, by the nationals.”

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In the next four weeks, CAI will take over the work and be responsible for operating and managing the airport.

Al-Hamdan was quoted by Arab News as saying: “We will only accept those who are highly qualified to run the new airport. There will be recruiting campaigns for both men and women.”

Besides CAI, Malaysia Airports and Paris Airports companies also bid to operate the King Abdulaziz International Airport.

Image: The new Hajj terminals of King Abdulaziz International Airport in Saudi Arabia. Photo: courtesy of Ammar shaker / Wikipedia.