Riyadh Airport Completes Major Terminal Reallocation, Expands Capacity to 56 Million by 2026

Big moves at Riyadh’s main airport. King Khalid International Airport has just wrapped up its largest operational terminal shift since opening — and it’s all about moving people faster and handling way more of them.

The overhaul, completed between February 16 and 25, is designed to streamline travel and prepare the airport for a serious passenger surge. By the end of 2026, capacity is expected to hit 56 million travelers a year.

What Actually Changed

Airlines have been redistributed across terminals to make better use of space and reduce transfer times — especially between domestic and international flights.

Here’s the new setup:

• Terminals 1 and 2: International flights for national carriers

• Terminals 3 and 4: Domestic flights for national carriers

• Terminal 5: International flights for foreign carriers

The goal? Shorter waits, smoother transfers, and better flow overall — particularly for transit passengers.

Bigger Numbers, Bigger Ambitions

This isn’t just a reshuffle. It’s a capacity boost.

Terminals 3 and 4 will now handle up to 25 million passengers annually, up from 16 million. Overall airport capacity is projected to jump from 42 million passengers in 2025 to 56 million by the end of 2026 — more than 33 percent growth.

Transit passenger capacity is also set to climb to 7.5 million a year, strengthening Riyadh’s push to become a key regional and international hub.

How the Transition Played Out

The shift was coordinated with airport partners, airlines, and government authorities to avoid chaos. More than 650 guides were deployed across terminals to help travelers navigate the changes.

Passengers were also offered one hour of free parking, complimentary inter-terminal transport via taxis and Riyadh Metro, and shuttle buses running every four minutes.

During the transition alone, the airport handled over 1 million passengers across more than 7,650 flights — without major disruption.

Bottom line: Riyadh isn’t just expanding. It’s upgrading how the whole system works.