Imagine your local airport. Now imagine that airport decided to throw a massive, never-ending party, complete with its own indoor forest. King Salman will have six runways—that’s like having six highways just for planes, because traffic jams in the sky are apparently not a thing anymore.
It will feature a 12-square-kilometer airport city, which is bigger than many actual cities you’ve visited. Think of it as a mini-country where the passport control guy also sells you a smoothie. There’s even a giant, climate-controlled indoor park with thousands of trees, because nothing says “jet lag relief” like a stroll under artificial rain in the desert.
To get a sense of the scale, consider this: The entire budget for new terminals at your local airport might cover one fifth of this project’s landscaping bill. It’s like comparing your grocery budget to a billionaire’s grocery budget—their “snack run” could feed a small nation.
Why should you, a regular person, care about this billionaire’s plaything?
You might think, “Great, another place I can’t afford to fly into.” But here’s the twist: you might actually benefit from it someday. Think of it like your local mall. When a super-fancy mall gets built down the street, the old mall has to step up its game—better food, nicer bathrooms, less sticky floors.
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That’s exactly what’s happening in the aviation world. When King Salman opens, competitors like Dubai and Doha will likely upgrade their own lounges, cut delays, and offer more direct flights just to keep up. Your layover in Frankfurt might suddenly have a free yoga room, all because some Saudi architect decided to build a runway with gold-plated tarmac.
Also, consider your next vacation. If you’re flying to Asia or Africa, Riyadh could become a major hub. That means cheaper tickets if you’re willing to change planes there. You might grumble about the layover, but then you’d step into an airport with an actual rainforest and suddenly realize your three-hour wait feels like a spa day.
A little story about over-the-top travel
Remember the time you bought a “premium” seat on a budget airline, and all you got was a tiny bag of peanuts and a flimsy blanket? Imagine the opposite. At this new airport, the waiting room will have a fully immersive aquarium, an art gallery, and probably a robot that gives you a foot massage. It’s like the airport designers watched The Jetsons and said, “Let’s make that, but with more marble.”
Most Expensive Airport
Think of it this way: You know that one friend who always has the newest phone, the fastest car, and the fanciest coffee machine? This airport is that friend, but on a global scale. It’s showing off, sure, but it’s also raising the bar for everyone else. Your next flight might not be to Riyadh, but your local airport will still feel the pressure to add a charging station that actually works.
