King Fahd International Airport opens GAT, upgrades ILS to Category III

Award ceremony 

Eastern Province Governor Prince Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz inaugurated two projects at King Fahd International Airport in Dammam: the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) and the upgrade of the western runway’s Instrument Landing System (ILS) to Category III.

The GAT spans over 23,000 square meters, designed to ensure operational efficiency and fast processing through the main terminal, which covers 3,935 square meters.

The project also includes aircraft parking covering 12,400 square meters, with capacity for four aircraft simultaneously, along with supporting facilities and car parking over 6,665 square meters.

According to an official statement, the Category III ILS upgrade is the first of its kind in Saudi Arabia and ranks among the most advanced air navigation systems globally.

It allows aircraft to land automatically in low-visibility conditions, ensuring continuity of flights, enhancing operational efficiency, and improving the reliability of the airport’s safety systems.

The project also upgraded the western runway to a length of 4,000 meters, with an additional 4,000 meters for the aircraft service road, featuring more than 3,200 lighting units operating under a unified system using advanced technologies to meet modern operational standards and accommodate various aircraft types.

Dammam Airports manages and operates three airports in the Eastern Province: King Fahd International Airport (Dammam), Al-Ahsa International Airport, and Al Qaisumah–Hafar Al-Batin International Airport.