JEDDAH, 15 September 2003 — Prince Sultan, second deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, will open a number of development projects in Qasim, including expansion of the regional airport, during an inspection tour of the central region beginning today. Abdullah ibn Muhammad Ruhaimy, chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority, said Prince Sultan would open the royal terminal at the Qasim Airport today. “He will also look into prospects for further expanding the airport,” he added.
There are 27 domestic and three international airports in the Kingdom which were constructed at a total cost of more than SR50 billion. King Fahd International Airport in Dammam is the largest, scheduled to handle 16 million passengers by 2005. Efforts are under way to expand the Jeddah airport, the main gateway for foreign pilgrims.
A new airport was recently opened in Dawadmi in the Central Province. Established at a cost of SR150 million, the airport is designed to handle one million passengers a year. It will serve more than 400 towns and villages in the region.
Prince Sultan, chairman of Saudi Arabian Airlines, will also open the airline’s new headquarters in Buraidah, capital of the Qasim region. The new building is designed to accommodate all Saudia departments including reservations and sales.
Prince Sultan will also open an advanced medical center for the treatment of heart diseases in Qasim. The center, named after him, will be equipped with facilities to conduct heart operations.
