JEDDAH, 29 December 2007 — Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah opened the renovated Royal Terminal at King Abdul Aziz International Airport here yesterday. The project included a platform for official receptions and a huge conference hall with advanced facilities.
King Abdullah later toured the Royal Terminal and Abdullah Ruhaimy, president of the General Authority of Civil Aviation, briefed him on the newly constructed airport facilities.
The platform for official receptions covers an area of 8,500 square meters, of which 3,500 square meters were allocated for royal receptions. Two movable sunshades have been put at the platform, Ruhaimy said, adding that they can be operated through remote control.
The platform has four mobile light towers and four escalators. Two more sunshades have been constructed at the entrances of jetways. The main reception platform has six fixed sunshades. On the west of the terminal, a 258-car parking garage has been constructed.
Prince Miteb, minister of public works and housing, and other senior princes and officials including Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal and Prince Khaled ibn Faisal ibn Turki, undersecretary for the National Guard in the Western Region, accompanied the king during the tour. King Abdullah later arrived in Riyadh and was received at the airport by Crown Prince Sultan and senior princes.
Prince Sultan, who is deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, inspected the renovated Royal Pavilion on Thursday before leaving for Riyadh.
Earlier this year, Prince Sultan signed a SR902.91 million contract with Al-Mabani Company to develop and upgrade aviation facilities of the Jeddah airport as part of a massive expansion project to increase its annual capacity to 80 million passengers.
