Mecca Metro and New Airport: Saudi Arabia's Global Projects
The construction of a new airport is planned for Mecca in the near future. The development plans for the airport and metro system are aimed at facilitating the arrival of the numerous pilgrims who visit Mecca annually and easing movement within the holy city. Saleh al-Rashid, CEO of the Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites (RCMC), confirmed these plans in an interview with "Harvard Business Review Arabia."
Currently, the city does not have its own international airport, and most foreign pilgrims arrive via King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, located approximately 100 kilometers from Mecca. The mountainous terrain of Mecca complicates air travel: it creates turbulence zones, makes landing difficult, and can lead to challenges related to visibility and weather conditions.
Al-Rashid also announced plans to implement the "Mecca Metro" project, which has already passed the feasibility study stage. Since the launch of bus services in Mecca in 2022, the number of passengers using this service has reached tens of millions.
According to data from the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT), last year Saudi Arabia received over 1.5 million foreign pilgrims for the Hajj pilgrimage through various entry points. In total, the number of pilgrims exceeded 1.6 million people. In 2024, pilgrims from Europe, America, Australia, and other countries accounted for 3.2% of the visitors.
