King Fahd Airport: A Sprawling Aviation Hub

King Fahd International Airport, also known as Dammam International Airport, is located in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. It is one of the three primary international airports in the kingdom and serves the entire Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. The airport is huge, covering an area of 776 square kilometres (300 square miles), making it the largest airport in the world by area. To put that into perspective, Denver International Airport, the second-largest airport in the world, covers 136 square kilometres. King Fahd International Airport's vast size includes a mosque that can accommodate 2,000 people, residential housing for 3,000 people, and onsite greenhouses. The airport has two runways, each 4 kilometres long, and three terminal buildings. It serves more than 10 million passengers annually and is a crucial aviation hub in the Middle East, connecting Saudi Arabia to major destinations in Asia, Europe, Africa, and beyond.

King Fahd International Airport is the largest airport in the world by area

King Fahd International Airport, also known as Dammam International Airport, is the largest airport in the world by area. Located in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, the airport covers a vast expanse of approximately 776 square kilometres (300-301 square miles). To put that into perspective, it is larger than the nearby country of Bahrain and equivalent to the combined area of the five boroughs of New York City. The airport's property is so extensive that it even surpasses the total area of the city of Mumbai, which stands at 603.4 square kilometres.

This massive scale is a result of its previous life as a US airbase during the Gulf War, where it was expanded to accommodate large fighter planes. Today, the airport boasts a wide runway system, with two parallel runways, each measuring over 4,000 meters in length, capable of handling the largest commercial aircraft globally. The airport also features dedicated cargo facilities, including cargo aprons, warehouses, and logistics centres.

While the airport property is expansive, the terminal building occupies a much smaller area of 36.75 square kilometres (14.2 square miles), or 3,520 square feet, depending on the source. This discrepancy highlights that the airport's size is largely attributed to its surrounding land. Nonetheless, the terminal itself is impressive, featuring a remarkable 80-meter-tall control tower, ranking among the tallest in the world.

King Fahd International Airport serves as a crucial aviation hub in the Middle East, providing connections to various destinations worldwide. It accommodates more than 10 million passengers annually, with 37 airlines operating flights to 43 destinations. The busiest route is between Dammam and Dubai, with 70 weekly flights. The airport also offers frequent flights to other popular destinations, including Cairo, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, and Delhi.

The airport property covers 776 square kilometres (300 square miles)

King Fahd International Airport, also known as Dammam International Airport, is located in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. Covering an area of 776 square kilometres (300 square miles), it is the largest airport in the world by area. To put that into perspective, the second-largest airport, Denver International Airport, covers 136 square kilometres (53 square miles), and the total area of the city of Mumbai is 603.4 square kilometres.

The airport's property includes a mosque that can accommodate up to 2,000 people, residential housing for up to 3,000 people, and onsite greenhouses. The airport is served by two runways, each 4 kilometres (2.5 miles) long, and has three terminal buildings: the Passenger Terminal, the Aramco Terminal, and the Royal Terminal reserved for the Saudi royal family.

King Fahd International Airport is a crucial aviation centre in the Middle East and plays a pivotal role in connecting Saudi Arabia to major destinations in Asia, Europe, Africa, and beyond. It serves as a primary access point for domestic and international journeys and provides connections to 43 destinations. The airport is well-connected to destinations across the Middle East and the Indian Subcontinent, with the busiest route being to and from Dubai, with 70 weekly flights.

The airport has a remarkable 80-metre-tall (262-foot-tall) control tower, ranking among the tallest air traffic control towers globally. This structure efficiently manages flight operations, navigation, and ground movements. In addition to its passenger terminals, the airport boasts dedicated cargo facilities, including extensive cargo aprons, warehouses, and logistics centres.

The airport building itself is just 36.75 square kilometres (14.2 square miles)

King Fahd International Airport, also known as Dammam International Airport, is located in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. It is one of the three primary international airports in the kingdom and serves the entire Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. The airport is located 31 kilometres northwest of downtown Dammam.

The airport property covers an area of 776 square kilometres (300 square miles), making it the largest airport in the world by area. However, the airport building itself is notably smaller, covering just 36.75 square kilometres (14.2 square miles). To put this into perspective, the airport terminal covers only a fraction of the total property area, at approximately 3,520 square metres (0.001 square miles).

Despite the relatively smaller size of the airport building, King Fahd International Airport boasts impressive infrastructure and facilities. The airport features two runways, each spanning more than 4,000 metres (2.5 miles) in length, capable of accommodating the largest commercial aircraft in the world. Additionally, the airport consists of three terminal buildings: the Passenger Terminal, the Aramco Terminal, and the Royal Terminal reserved for the Saudi royal family.

The airport also includes dedicated cargo facilities, such as cargo aprons, warehouses, and logistics centres. Among its other notable features are a mosque with a capacity of 2,000 people, residential housing for up to 3,000 people, and onsite greenhouses. These comprehensive facilities contribute to the airport's reputation as a significant aviation hub in the Middle East.

The airport is served by two runways, both 4 kilometres (2.5 miles) long

King Fahd International Airport, also known as Dammam International Airport, is served by two runways, both measuring 4 kilometres in length, or 2.5 miles. This expansive runway system is designed to accommodate the largest commercial aircraft in the world, including the Antonov AN-225 Mriya, which landed at the airport in 2009. The runways are a key component of the airport's infrastructure, enabling it to handle a diverse range of aircraft and maintain efficient operations during peak times.

The airport, located in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, is the largest airport in the world by area, covering approximately 776 square kilometres (300-301 square miles). To put this into perspective, it is even larger than the nearby country of Bahrain and is equivalent in size to the five boroughs of New York City. The vast size of the airport's property is a notable feature, as the terminal buildings occupy a much smaller area.

The airport's three terminal buildings include the Passenger Terminal, which serves mainstream passengers, the Aramco Terminal, exclusively used by Aramco employees, and the Royal Terminal, reserved for the Saudi royal family. In addition to its passenger terminals, King Fahd International Airport also boasts dedicated cargo facilities, enhancing its operational capabilities.

As a crucial aviation hub in the Middle East, King Fahd International Airport connects Saudi Arabia to major destinations across Asia, Europe, Africa, and beyond. It serves as a primary gateway for both domestic and international travel, accommodating millions of passengers annually. The airport's strategic position and advanced infrastructure elevate its significance, setting a high standard for aviation excellence.

The airport's impressive scale and amenities make it a notable destination in its own right. In addition to its aviation facilities, King Fahd International Airport also features a mosque with a capacity of 2,000 people, residential housing for 3,000 people, and onsite greenhouses, showcasing its comprehensive range of amenities and facilities.

The airport is located 31 kilometres northwest of downtown Dammam, Saudi Arabia

King Fahd International Airport, also known as Dammam International Airport, is located 31 kilometres northwest of downtown Dammam, Saudi Arabia. Dammam is a city in eastern Saudi Arabia, on the Persian Gulf, northwest of Bahrain Island. It is a major administrative centre for the Saudi oil industry, contributing to the export volume of the city's King Abdul Aziz Sea Port, which is the second-largest port in Saudi Arabia.

Dammam is predominantly an industrial city, with its economy relying on the local petroleum industry. Saudi Aramco dominates much of the oil sector in the city and the country. The company's headquarters are located in the nearby city of Dhahran, which also hosts the Aramco Residential Camp. The first oil well in Saudi Arabia was discovered in Dammam, and the city is now a major seaport and a petroleum and natural gas centre.

The discovery of immense oil reserves in the locality in 1938 led to the transformation of the once small coastal settlement into a boomtown. Today, it is a strikingly modern city with sprawling suburbs, most of which have been built since the 1940s. Large herds of imported beef and dairy cattle are kept on experimental farms, and water is provided by desalination plants that pump approximately seven million cubic feet of treated water every day.

King Fahd International Airport is the largest airport in the world by area, with an approximate area of 776 square kilometres (300 square miles). The airport building itself covers 36.75 square kilometres (14.2 square miles). Formerly a US airbase used primarily during the Gulf War, the airport has been overseeing commercial operations since 28 November 1999. It serves as an operating base for low-cost carriers and connects to various destinations globally.

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