In 2023, Matarat signed a three-year contract with Egis to provide consulting services and help develop airport infrastructure throughout the Kingdom, utilizing best practices to deliver the highest international standards of service.
For George Voutsinas, Egis' Regional Director of Aviation - Middle East, Saudi Arabia’s transformation represents “an ambitious, visionary, and very real movement.” Egis Aviation has become deeply integrated into this new era of growth, acting as the Project Management Office (PMO) for Matarat Holding, which oversees all 27 airports across the Kingdom.
In recognition of this partnership’s impact, Matarat Holding, in collaboration with Egis, was awarded the distinguished Project Management Office (PMO) Excellence Award by the Global Project Excellence Awards. The accolade celebrates Matarat’s transformative PMO established to drive capital project initiatives aligned with Vision 2030 while setting new benchmarks for project governance and operational excellence within and beyond the Middle East.
Egis has also worked extensively with Riyadh Airports Company (RAC) on its Terminal 1 project at King Khalid International Airport, which was inaugurated in January 2025 and is currently working on Terminal 2, which will be handed over by the end of the year.
“Our work covers strategic planning, project delivery, and operations oversight,” Voutsinas said. “The partnership is a model for how public entities and private expertise can merge effectively to accelerate delivery in a high-quality way.”
Egis’s footprint stretches from Riyadh to Jeddah, Dammam, and AlUla, reflecting both the scale and geographical reach of the Kingdom’s plans. “Egis is a key player in Saudi aviation. We’re not just consultants; we’re partners in the country’s transformation,” he added.
Matarat, he explained, plays a crucial role in aligning infrastructure development with national objectives. It defines capacity targets, allocates budgets, and ensures all projects - from regional upgrades to megahub expansions - fit within the Vision 2030 framework.
Egis’ support for Matarat as its PMO partner includes monitoring capital expenditure and ensuring alignment between operators such as RAC and JEDCO. “Matarat guarantees that all the successes and investments are proceeding in the right direction toward the country’s objectives,” Voutsinas explained. “With Egis being operational worldwide and engaged across design, construction supervision, management, and airport operations, we bring an end-to-end perspective that helps consolidate these efforts.”
With 27 airports under its umbrella, Matarat’s coordinated approach reflects Saudi Arabia’s goal of creating a seamlessly integrated national network one capable of supporting both international hub operations and regional connectivity.
At the heart of this network expansion is King Salman International Airport (KSIA), a megaproject designed to position Riyadh as a premier global aviation and logistics hub. Covering 57 square km, the airport will feature six parallel runways and capacity for 120 million passengers a year by 2030, rising to 185 million by 2050
“Saudi Arabia’s has the natural advantage of its strategic geographical location at the crossroads of three continents,” said Voutsinas. Although Egis is not currently involved with KSIA, Voutsinas acknowledged it will not only be a world-class hub but will also stimulate economic diversification spurring growth in logistics, commerce, and tourism.
Complementing this infrastructure is Riyadh Air, the Kingdom’s new flag carrier based at KSIA, which began operations in 2025.
While the momentum of Saudi’s aviation sector is extraordinary, the challenge lies in balancing pace with precision. “The real challenge is how to keep operational excellence while growing at such speed,” said Voutsinas.
Egis’s record delivery of Riyadh’s Terminal 1 illustrates what can be achieved: “We delivered Terminal 1 in just over a year - a project that usually takes two or three years - without compromising safety, quality, or environmental standards.”
This operational discipline will prove vital as Saudi airports begin competing head-to-head with regional heavyweights in Dubai, Doha, and Istanbul. “The Kingdom’s location gives it a massive opportunity,” Voutsinas added. “But we have to achieve that potential through world-class standards across every one of our operational details.”
Technology and sustainability form the backbone of the new Saudi aviation identity. From biometric screening and holographic wayfinding to AI-driven operations and advanced cybersecurity, the country aims to set new global benchmarks.
“Saudia Arabia is a technology-driven country,” Voutsinas observed. “Sometimes the technology tries to keep up with the country, not the other way around. Each new airport iteration pushes boundaries in passenger experience, energy efficiency, and safety."
Saudi Arabia’s aviation growth is inseparable from its broader tourism ambitions. With Expo 2030, Asian Championships and the FIFA World Cup 2034 set to take place in the Kingdom, visitor numbers are expected to soar.
“Aviation is just one piece of the puzzle,” said Voutsinas. “Airports in Riyadh, Jeddah, and AlUla are being upgraded to handle these waves of tourists. Places that were little known internationally a few years ago are now becoming global destinations.”
Projects like Jeddah’s Hajj Terminal redevelopment, for which Egis serves as independent engineer, highlight the dual role of Saudi airports serving both religious and leisure tourism. Meanwhile, new Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects for Taif and Abha airports, featuring designs by Foster + Partners, signal a new wave of regional investment.
With PPPs central to the Kingdom’s long-term aviation strategy, Voutsinas underlined: “We know how to design, construct, and operate airports, so you get a complete package from us. That makes us a natural fit for PPP opportunities.”
He emphasised that collaboration is one of the defining ingredients of Saudi Arabia’s aviation success.
“We see ourselves as a strategic partner and an extension of the team alongside Matarat and Riyadh Airports,” explained Voutsinas. “The extension of our contract with RAC for another three years is proof of the trust and synergy between us.”
“The future of Saudi Arabia’s aviation sector,” Voutsinas concluded, “is going beyond building airports; it is building a sustainable, connected ecosystem.”
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Note: this article was originally published in Arabian Aerospace / Aviation Week Network
