Makkah is planning to build its own airport. Saudi Arabia's approval
Plans for the first international airport in the history of Makkah al Mukarramah have been formally approved by Saudi Arabia. Feasibility studies have been finished and strategic directions authorized, according to RCMC CEO Eng. Saleh Al Rasheed, who confirmed the news in the Harvard Business Review Arabia. This is what we currently know.
Important Lessons
Although earlier plans verified the Al Faisaliyah project region between Makkah and Jeddah, neither an official site nor a development date have been disclosed.
In an interview with Harvard Business Review Arabia for the February March 2026 issue, RCMC CEO Eng. Saleh Al Rasheed confirmed the airport plans.
Strategic, economic, and investment directions have been formally approved after feasibility studies with complete international requirements were finished.
Plans for an international airport to serve Makkah al Mukarramah have been formally confirmed by the Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites (RCMC).
In an interview with Harvard Business Review Arabia for its February–March 2026 issue, RCMC CEO Eng. Saleh Al Rasheed made the revelation. It was the most authoritative declaration ever made on the topic, coming directly from the head of the organization in charge of Makkah's development.
What Has Been Verified?
Comprehensive feasibility studies for a Makkah airport constructed in accordance with all international standards have been finished. The project's investment, economic, and strategic directions have received official approval.
In order to choose the optimum investment and operation model for the airport in the future, the RCMC will collaborate with the private sector.
The airport is built to accommodate both Makkah locals and the millions of pilgrims that travel to the holy city every year for the Hajj and Umrah, all the while making sure that it won't have a detrimental impact on the nearby King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah.
Saudi aviation authorities have officially rejected the idea of building an airport in Makkah for decades. Because airplanes are not allowed to fly over the Kaaba, religious regulations have long blocked airport construction within the confines of the holy city.
Currently, pilgrims arriving by plane must travel 80 to 90 kilometers from King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah to Makkah. This trip adds time, expense, and logistical complexity to what is already one of the most difficult travel experiences in the world.
Where Could It Be Constructed?
There is no certified official website.
The airport will not be within the boundaries of Haram, it should be underlined.
The Al project, a planned new city being created between Makkah and Jeddah, was mentioned as a probable location in earlier statements from 2019.
Al-Faisaliyah is defined as an extension of Makkah city, extending from the western seashore to the legal boundaries of the holy city.
