King Abdulaziz International Airport, International airport in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
King Abdulaziz International Airport is an international airport in the north of Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. The facility has three passenger terminals and two parallel runways, each 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) long.
The airport opened in 1981 and replaced the older Kandara Airport as the main gateway to the city. The new facility was part of a nationwide program to modernize Saudi infrastructure.
The Hajj Terminal was built specifically for the millions of Muslims who travel each year for pilgrimage to Mecca. The building remains empty most of the year and opens only during the main religious season.
The airport sits about 19 kilometers (12 miles) north of central Jeddah and can be reached by taxi, shuttle, or the Haramain High Speed Railway. Plan extra time for security checks, as the facility is large and terminals spread across a wide area.
The airport employs eight fire stations with a total of 172 Saudi personnel spread across its grounds. This unusually large fire department was established to ensure safety at one of the most expansive airport sites in the world.
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