"GMR and the Tamasuk-Bengaluru Airport consortium have emerged as key contenders for the development of Saudi Arabia’s Taif International Airport."

India’s GMR Group has successfully cleared the pre-qualification stage to bid for the construction of the new Taif International Airport in Saudi Arabia, a project valued at approximately $800 million (₹6,600 crore).

The announcement was made by the Saudi National Center for Privatisation & PPP (NCP), which confirmed that GMR is the only standalone company to qualify. The other four contenders consist of high-profile international consortia.

The Competitive Landscape

The race for the Taif project features a "who's who" of global infrastructure and aviation leaders:

GMR Group (India)

Tamasuk – Bengaluru International Airport Ltd (India/Saudi Arabia)

TAV Airports – Mada International Holding (Turkey/Saudi Arabia)

Daa International-led Consortium (Ireland)

Kalyon Insaat Consortium (Turkey)

Project Scope and the BTO Model

The new airport, located roughly 21 km from the existing facility, is a key component of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategy. It is designed to handle an initial capacity of 2.5 million passengers annually by 2030, eventually scaling to meet demand through 2055.

The project will be executed under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) framework using a Build-Transfer-Operate (BTO) contract model.

Strategic Importance

Beyond serving as a modern transport hub, the new Taif International Airport is expected to become a vital gateway for Umrah pilgrims, acting as a high-capacity alternative to Jeddah within the region's multi-airport system. The development will include a state-of-the-art passenger terminal, utility networks, and expansive commercial zones.

For GMR, which already operates major hubs like Delhi and Hyderabad, this qualification marks a significant step in its Middle Eastern expansion.