Riyadh - Mubasher: The Red Sea Development Company has awarded its airside infrastructure works contract for the destination’s international airport that is set to open in 2022 to a joint venture (JV) between two major Saudi contractors.

The contract, which is the Red Sea Development's largest in terms of value to date, was awarded to Nesma & Partners Contracting Co. and Almabani General Contractors following a competitive tendering process, according to a press release on Monday.

The contract covers the essential construction of airside infrastructure works. Moreover, the entire infrastructure of the Red Sea Project, including its transport network, will be fully powered by renewable energy, in support of the creation of a sustainable gateway that will open up Saudi Arabia to the world.

In addition to the dedicated airport, the first phase of the development comprises sixteen hotels offering 3,000 hotel rooms across five islands and two inland sites, as well as commercial, retail, and leisure facilities.

On this occasion, CEO of The Red Sea Development, John Pagano, said, “Turning our vision into reality will require us to work with organisations that share our values and our uncompromising commitment in enhancing the environment.

"Both our partners have impressive expertise in delivering airside infrastructure, coupled with both local and international experience," Pagano added.

Meanwhile, vice chairman and board member at Nesma & Partners, Rami Alturki, commented, “We are proud to be selected to contribute to the development of the Red Sea International Airport which we believe will play a key role in the transformation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia."

“For this project, we will mobilise our most experienced airport resources and qualified experts to ensure we meet our customer’s expectation, and we are ready for the challenging delivery period, especially during this tough sanitary crisis currently affecting the entire globe,” said Almabani General's CEO, Joseph Daher.

Once complete, the airport will serve an estimated one million tourists per year catering to both domestic and international flights, providing a memorable aviation experience for travellers and guests.