King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) is the first international airport established as part of the programs prepared by the government of the Kingdom for the development of the Kingdom's international airports. The Airport was officially inaugurated in Jumada al-Thani 1401 A.H. corresponding to April 1981 A.D. It is located 19 km north of the city of Jeddah, the main port of the Kingdom and an important trading center built on the plain extending from the Hejaz Mountains to the Red Sea.

KAIA occupies an area of 105 square kilometers that includes in addition to the main airport's facilities housing facilities for the staff, facilities of the Royal Saudi Air Force in the western region and areas reserved for future expansions. It is expected that the King Abdulaziz International Airport accommodates a total of 15 million passengers by the year 2010 A.D., including hundreds of thousands of pilgrims who come annually by air to perform Hajj.