The Red Sea Development Company (TRSDC) has awarded UK-based architectural firm Fosters + Partners the design contract for a new international airport at The Red Sea project, the former developer’s anticipated tourism destination in KSA, Invest-Gate reports.

By 2030, the international airport is expected to serve 1 mn annual tourists and visitors, at a peak of 900 passengers per hour. It is due for completion in 2022 and will have a fixed schedule of domestic and international flights, according to the company’s press release on October 30.

The contract, which was awarded after competitive tendering, will see the planned project have an eco-friendly and sustainable design, in line with TRSDC’s sustainability goals. Meanwhile, the architecture will reflect the natural beauty of the surrounding landscape and represent the vision of The Red Sea project.

“The airport will be a cutting-edge facility providing a unique experience for our visitors. Smart technology will play a vital role in the development of the airport and it was key for us to work with a company that could assemble a team with the skills to ensure the airport would be smart by design,” said TRSDC’s CPO Ian Williamson was quoted as saying.

For his part, Head of Studio at Foster + Partners Gerard Evenden remarked, “The airport has been envisaged as a gateway to one of the most unique resorts in the world and an integral part of the visitor experience. Inspired by the colors and textures of the desert landscape, the design seeks to create a calm and luxurious journey through the terminal and will become a transit hub for visitors coming in by both land and air.”

Aimed at positioning Saudi Arabia on the global tourism map, The Red Sea project is set to welcome its first guests by the end of 2022. Besides the dedicated airport, phase I of the development will present up to 14 hotels, offering 3,000 keys across five islands and two inland sites, together with commercial, retail, and leisure spaces.