Ar-Rass Airport

Ar-Rass Airport, also known as the Saudi Aviation Club Airport in ar-Rass Governorate, is one of the Saudi Aviation Club "SAC" airports in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It is located in ar-Rass Governorate in Qassim Province and is operated and managed by the club. It is the third of the club’s airports in the Kingdom after al-Thumamah Airport in Riyadh City and al-Mandassah Airport in al-Madinah al-Munawwarah. It is the first airport of its kind to control aircraft remotely, and it was inaugurated on April 24, 2024.

The establishment of ar-Rass Airport represents a qualitative and developmental step for southern and western Qassim Province, specifically ar-Rass Governorate and its affiliated centers. This achieves developmental balance and creates job opportunities for local residents. It is located between Dukhna Center and ar-Rass Governorate on the road leading to Makkah al-Mukarramah City.

The establishment of ar-Rass Airport came with the support of the emirate of the province, represented by the Investment Development Committee, along with a community initiative from ar-Rass Chamber of Commerce. It began as an idea proposed by the Governor of Qassim Province in 2019, after which ar-Rass Chamber of Commerce took on the implementation of the project. Construction work began in mid-2020, and the airport was inaugurated on April 24, 2024.

Ar-Rass Airport is located on an area estimated at 17.6 million m², with a runway area of approximately 2.3 million m² and a future expansion capacity of about 35 percent of its current size. The airport provides eleven aviation-related services, including commercial aviation, sport aviation, gliding, and skydiving. It also includes a first-of-its-kind center for remotely controlled aircraft, an advanced maintenance center, aircraft hangars, a specialized aviation sciences academy, countryside lodging, and a recreational area. Additionally, the airport hosts four annual festivals specializing in aviation. The airport will also serve as a supportive evacuation and emergency airport for western and southern Qassim Province.

Saudi Aviation Club airports differ from other domestic and international airports in the Kingdom, which are managed and operated by Matarat Holding Company affiliated with the General Authority of Civil Aviation. The club’s airports serve its activities for aviation enthusiasts of various types, such as general aviation, sport aviation, gliding, and model airplanes. The club is an independent, non-profit entity that manages its resources through services provided by members and aviation enthusiasts, as well as through programs it participates in to help develop resources, under the supervision and follow-up of official entities.