Medina Airport—Public-Private Partnership

completed

The project provides advisory services to GACA (General Authority of Civil Aviation) in implementing a public-private partnership (PPP) transaction for improvements to Madinah Airport. The project works with GACA to build a new terminal, expand and rehabilitate existing infrastructure facilities, create economic activity by bringing in private sector investment, improve employment opportunities, and upgrade the quality of services. GACA's objectives are to: 1) develop Madinah as an international airport, particularly to promote it as an entry/exit hub for religious pilgrims; 2) rehabilitate airport infrastructure to handle projected traffic volumes; 3) improve operations and service quality standards in line with international best practices by capitalizing on the private sector efficiencies; 4) avoid the capital and operating costs of the airport's rehabilitation and expansion by implementing a long-term PPP agreement between GACA and a private investor; and 5) eliminate or reduce the budgetary support to the airport by using the private sector.