Riyadh King Khaled International Airport T-5 project, designed by Istanbul based architectural practice GMW MIMARLIK, maximizes the passenger comfort by optimizing the walking distances and use of natural light while being adapted to the existing terminal structures.

King Khaled International Airport is located 35 kilometers north of Riyadh city center. Before Terminal 5 became operational in 2016, the airport catered for 13 million domestic and international passengers per year with its existing 4 terminals and 4,200 m long two parallel runways. The 106,000sqm new terminal, located on a 400,000sqm site along the main approach road, was designed to serve either 7 wide-body or 16 narrow-body aircraft simultaneously, and has doubled the passenger capacity of the airport.  The new development also included a new car park for 2400 cars, and other support facilities such as a fire station and an administrative complex.

GMW MIMARLIK’s initial concept design for Terminal 5 aimed to create a progressive landmark building with a strong architectural identity but the airport authority requested this to be modified in order to more closely follow the external appearance of the existing terminal structures.  The general arrangement of the terminal has been designed to maximize passenger comfort by keeping walking distances and level changes to minimum as well as making efficient use of natural light. The modular structure will enable the operators to adapt and expand the terminal to respond to possible future developments and demands.  Although no application was made, the building has been designed to achieve LEED certification.   

Since its formation 17 years ago, the Istanbul based GMW MIMARLIK has been responsible for several international terminal projects such as in Istanbul Ataturk, Vnukovo, Cairo, Skopje, Ohrid, Rome, Medina, Riyadh, and Kuwait International Airports.  GMW MIMARLIK designs have always given top priority to the critical issues of clarity, efficiency and sustainability in order to achieve high levels of passenger comfort and long-term operational success.  GMWM has now become one of the leading brands in transportation sector both in Turkey and abroad.