The Saudi Program for the Development and Reconstruction of Yemen has launched the third phase of the Aden International Airport Rehabilitation Project, marking a major step in upgrading Yemen’s air transport infrastructure and underscoring continued Saudi support for economic and service-sector recovery in the country’s liberated governorates.
The launch ceremony was attended by Aden Governor and Minister of State Abdulrahman Sheikh Al-Yafei and several senior officials, who stressed the project’s strategic importance in enhancing aviation safety and strengthening Yemen’s regional and international connectivity.
The third phase focuses on rehabilitating and upgrading the airport’s main runway, which has suffered significant deterioration in its pavement layers, posing technical risks to flight operations.
It also includes the provision of advanced navigation equipment and modern communication systems to address existing shortages and ensure compliance with international civil aviation standards.
The project aims to improve the airport’s operational efficiency, air traffic management, and safety for aircraft and passengers.
It is also expected to boost the airport’s capacity to handle regional and international flights, support economic, commercial and tourism activity, facilitate the movement of passengers and cargo, and enhance humanitarian access to Aden and neighboring governorates.
Support for the Aviation Sector
Earlier in Riyadh, the head of Yemen’s General Authority of Civil Aviation and Meteorology, Saleh bin Nahid, met with Hassan Al-Attas, Assistant Supervisor General of the Saudi Program for the Development and Reconstruction of Yemen and Head of the Projects and Development Programs Sector, to review progress on civil aviation projects implemented by the program in several liberated governorates.
Bin Nahid praised the program’s role in supporting and financing development projects at civil aviation facilities and institutions, describing them as essential to improving service quality and strengthening aviation safety.
He said the cost of rehabilitating Aden International Airport’s runway and equipping it with advanced navigation systems exceeds $12 million, helping to enhance the airport’s technical readiness and increase airlines’ confidence in using it as a safe and reliable operational hub.
