Eligible bidders for the project will be announced in May and must submit their final bids by Sept. 25. GACA has asked the private sector to join international bidding for developing, financing and operating the airport through partnership with the public sector for a period not less than 25 years.

The airport will be developed in two phases. With the end of the first phase scheduled for 2014, the capacity of the airport is predicted to reach eight million passengers annually. By 2022 the capacity is expected to be 12 million passengers annually.

Madinah is the fourth largest Saudi city in terms of air passengers. Traffic in the city's airport increased 7.9 percent in 2008 compared to the previous year when the number of passengers reached four million passengers.

The authority signed a contract with the International Finance Corporation of the World Bank to act as the financial consultant.

The airport's main lounge, the pilgrims' hall and the royal hall are currently being expanded in addition to the construction of a new fire and rescue facility. Two tarmacs are also being added to receive large aircraft. These latest expansions are estimated to cost SR208 million and will be completed by the end of this year.