Al-Ula International Airport (IATA: ULH, ICAO: OEAO), formerly Prince Abdul Majeed bin Abdulaziz International Airport, is an airport located 25 kilometres (16 mi) southeast of Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia.[2] It was named after Prince Abdul Majeed bin Abdulaziz.[3] The airport became operational on 31 October 2011.[4]
AlUla International Airport مطار العلا الدولي Maṭār al-ʿUlā al-Duwalī | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||||||||||
| Airport type | Public | ||||||||||
| Owner/Operator | Matarat Holding Company | ||||||||||
| Serves | AlUla | ||||||||||
| Location | AlUla municipality | ||||||||||
| Opened | 31 October 2011 | ||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 2,047[1] ft / 624 m | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 26°29′0″N 038°7′1″E / 26.48333°N 38.11694°E | ||||||||||
| Map | |||||||||||
  ULH/OEAO Location in Saudi Arabia  ULH/OEAO ULH/OEAO (Asia)  ULH/OEAO ULH/OEAO (West and Central Asia) | |||||||||||
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| Runways | |||||||||||
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The planned capacity of the airport was 100,000 passengers per year, including both tourists and locals.[5] After its expansion in 2021, the airport's capacity increased to 400,000 annual passengers.[6]
History
editThe airport began operations on 31 October 2011 when the first flight from Riyadh operated by Saudia under the name “Prince Abdulmajeed bin Abdulaziz Domestic Airport". it was named after Abdul Majeed bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.[7] It is the closest airport to the pre-Islamic archaeological site of Mada'in Saleh and Al-Ula Heritage Village. The airport is the first one in Saudi Arabia specifically designed to serve people coming to the region for visiting purposes.[8]
In March 2021, the General Authority of Civil Aviation in Saudi Arabia has approved the landing of international flights at the airport. According to Saudi Press Agency, the airport's annual capacity has increased from 100,000 passengers to 400,000 and its area has increased to 2.4 million square meters.[9] After this expansion, the airport was officially renamed "AlUla International Airport".[10]
In October 2023, The Royal Commission for Al-Ula announced a new expansions of the airport, in addition to its new designs. The new expansion will increase the capacity from 400,000 to 6 million passengers every year. The airport will also serve as a logistics hub in Saudi Arabia's northwest.[11]
Airlines and destinations
edit| Airlines | Destinations |
|---|---|
| flydubai | Dubai–International[12] |
| Flynas | Bahrain, Dammam, Dubai–International, Jeddah, Kuwait City, Riyadh |
| Gulf Air | Seasonal: Bahrain[13] |
| Qatar Airways | Doha[14] |
| Royal Jordanian | Amman–Queen Alia[15] |
| Saudia | Jeddah,[16] Riyadh Seasonal: Paris–Charles de Gaulle[17] |
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ "Prince Abdul Majeed Airport, AlUla, Saudi Arabia". DB Air. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
- ^ "OEAO — AlUla / Prince Abdulmajeed bin Abdulaziz". ANS. Archived from the original on 25 December 2012. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
- ^ Abdul Ghafour, P. K. (16 October 2008). "Abdullah inspects plan for expansion of Madinah airport". Arab News. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
- ^ "GACA". Gaca.gov.sa. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
- ^ "Opportunies [sic]". Holland Gulf Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
- ^ "Saudi Arabia's AlUla airport opens to international flights after expansion". Al Arabiya. 2021-03-21. Retrieved 2024-05-11.
- ^ "First flight lands at Al-Ola airport Archived 2012-01-03 at the Wayback Machine", Arab News, 31 October 2011. Retrieved 18 April 2012
- ^ "First Tourist Airport in Al Ula". Jawlah Tours. 29 October 2011. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
- ^ "Saudi Arabia's Al-'Ula airport to receive international flights". Arab News. 2021-03-04. Retrieved 2021-03-05.
- ^ "AlUla International Airport Starts Receiving International Flights". Saudi Press Agency. 2021-03-21. Retrieved 2024-05-11.
- ^ "Saudi authorities unveil designs for AlUla International Airport expansion". Arab News. 2023-10-29. Retrieved 2024-05-11.
- ^ Casey, David. "Flydubai Expands Saudi Arabia Network As Part of Tourism Push". Routesonline.com. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
- ^ "GULF AIR ADDS SEASONAL AL ULA SERVICE FROM FEB 2024". Retrieved 26 January 2024.
- ^ "Qatar Airways NW23 Saudi Arabia network expsnsion".
- ^ "Global heritage destination AlUla shares growth story at Arabian Travel Market 2023". Zawya. 1 May 2023.
- ^ "Saudia Adds Jeddah – Al Ula Link from late-Feb 2015". Routesonline.com. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
- ^ "Saudia to launch direct flights from Paris to AlUla". Arab News. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
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