The Future is Bright
![airport](http://alabbasiholdings.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/airport.png)
Madinah Sharif Infrastructure & Expansion
The population of Madinah sharif as well as the number of pilgrim visitors is notably increasing year by year! As a result major plans are already being implemented to not only expand the capacity of al Masjid an-Nabawi sharif, but the entire infrastructure serving the city. This is inshaAllah good news for the Group’s ongoing projects and efforts.
In recent years a lot of capital has been spent by the government to deliver infrastructure expansion projects and as a result many improvements have been delivered, such as (1) construction of inner and outer ring roads (2) development of the main arterial roads and many roads serving the inner residential areas (3) development of major new shopping centres and family leisure parks etc. Other live projects that will inshaAllah further the development of Madinah sharif are:
Haramain High Speed Rail Project – Madinah Terminal
This project, also known as the “Western Railway” or “Makkah to Madinah High Speed Railway” is a 449.2 kilometres (279.1 miles), high speed, inter-city rail transport system under construction in Saudi Arabia. It will link the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah via King Abdullah Economic City, Rabigh, Jeddah, and King Abdul-Aziz International Airport.
The rail line will host electric trains in order to provide safe and comfortable transport at a speed of 320 kilometres per hour (200 mph). Construction of this major transport project started in March 2009, and when complete the network is expected to carry three million passengers a year, including many Hajj and Umrah pilgrims, thus helping to relieve traffic congestion on the roads.
Madinah International Airport Expansion
The financing for the new Prince Muhammad bin Abdul-Aziz International Airport in Madinah sharif was approved in July 2012. The new airport will have a capacity to accommodate eight million passengers in the first phase, which will be ready in approx. 2015. The capacity will be increased by 12 million in the second phase, which will be completed in 2020.
The Madinah airport project includes construction of new terminals covering 138,000 sq. meters. The new airport will have 18 departure gates with air-bridges linked to aircraft in addition to parking for 20 planes. The project’s total area will be spread over four million sq. meters.