King Saud Air Base has entered another procurement stage as Saudi Arabia advances construction of facilities at the Eastern Sector military complex. The Royal Saudi Air Force has opened the next phase for contractors, strengthening a long-term program designed to create a major combat air base at Hafr Al Batin. MEED reports that the latest phase carries a three-year project duration.
The tender follows an earlier qualification process for the design and construction of Phase Two facilities. Saudi Arabia’s Etimad procurement platform identifies the Royal Air Force as the government entity behind the qualification process.
The qualification invitation covered buildings, roads, landscaping and site development works. It also included power generation, water and wastewater pumping stations, and fiber-optic communications.
MEED Projects previously valued King Saud Air Base Package 2 at approximately $1.36 billion. It also valued Package 1 at about $783 million.
King Saud Air Base expands
King Saud Air Base is taking shape as a major Royal Saudi Air Force installation in Hafr Al Batin. Saudi Arabia originally planned the base as a three-phase development. The program would support multiple aircraft squadrons and associated operational systems.
The original development plan also included facilities supporting fuel, weapons, ammunition and spare-parts storage. The design allows the installation to accommodate additional air systems in the future.
Furthermore, Saudi authorities planned the construction program without disrupting the base’s existing operations. The development therefore requires careful coordination between construction activities and military operations.
The latest procurement signals continued progress after several contracts and construction activities advanced across the wider base program.
King Saud Air Base enters another delivery stage
The latest Phase Two scope points to a broad construction package rather than a single building project. Contractors must cover civil infrastructure and several supporting utility systems.
The scope includes roads, earthworks, backfilling, grading and compaction works. It also covers buildings, power facilities, water infrastructure and wastewater facilities.
In addition, the qualification requirements include fiber-optic communications infrastructure. These systems will support connectivity across the expanding military installation.
The project also forms part of Saudi Arabia’s broader defence infrastructure investment. The Kingdom continues upgrading military facilities alongside its wider national construction program.
Separately, Petrojet secured a $160 million contract for infrastructure works at King Saud Air Base in 2025. The contract has a reported 18-month delivery period.
That package covers connections, protection networks and electrical systems. It also includes sewage and water connections serving a new power plant.
The power plant involves a consortium comprising Petrojet, Alfanar and Isam Khairi Kabbani Group. However, those works should remain distinct from the newly tendered Phase Two package.
King Saud Air Base strengthens Eastern Sector infrastructure
Saudi Arabia began planning the modern King Saud Air Base after approving the transformation of an advanced airfield. Technical studies, engineering surveys and designs followed the approval.
The base incorporates energy-efficiency considerations and seeks to preserve existing facilities. Its planned operational capabilities support continuous military activity when required.
The current tender therefore represents another significant construction step within the wider three-phase program. MEED currently identifies the project duration for the latest phase as three years.
The procurement also creates opportunities for contractors specializing in military construction, utilities and complex infrastructure delivery. Saudi Arabia’s construction pipeline continues to favor strategic infrastructure alongside major national development schemes.
The King Saud Air Base expansion also reflects the wider scale of aviation infrastructure construction across the Gulf. In the UAE, Dubai World Central Airport is undergoing plans for a major expansion designed to create the world’s largest airport by capacity.
Project Fact Sheet
Project: King Saud Air Base development
Location: Hafr Al Batin, Eastern Sector, Saudi Arabia
Client: Royal Saudi Air Force, under Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense
Current stage: Tendering for the next development phase
Current phase: Phase Two
Estimated Package 2 value: $1.36 billion
Earlier Package 1 value: Approximately $783 million
Current phase duration: Three years
Development structure: Three planned phases
Main construction scope: Buildings, roads, site development and infrastructure
Utilities scope: Power generation, water and wastewater facilities
Communications scope: Fiber-optic communication infrastructure
Operational purpose: Major combat air base supporting multiple aircraft squadrons
Strategic location: Hafr Al Batin in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Sector
Procurement platform: Etimad government procurement platform
Qualification reference: 241140017394
Construction classification: General construction and public facilities construction
Delivery consideration: Construction must support continued base operations
Project Team
Client: Royal Saudi Air Force
Government authority: Ministry of Defense, Saudi Arabia
Engineering authority: Royal Saudi Air Force Engineering and Works Administration
Procurement authority: Royal Saudi Air Force
Phase Two contractor: To be appointed through the current procurement process
Phase Two consultant: Not publicly identified in the available tender information
Earlier infrastructure contractor: Petrojet
Earlier infrastructure consortium members: Alfanar and Isam Khairi Kabbani Group
Project consultant: Dar AlRiyadh
Earlier construction contractor: BGSJV
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