Air-Handling Units & Terminal Air Distribution installations at King Khalid International Airport (RUH)

Once chilled water is produced, it is the air side that delivers comfort to passengers. This sub-category covers built-up and modular air-handling units, packaged rooftop units, fan-coil units, ducted split systems, and VRF/VRV heat-recovery systems for offices, lounges and support buildings, plus displacement ventilation for high, glass-fronted hold rooms. AHU selection in high-heat climates prioritises desert-grade pre-filtration, high external static for long terminal duct runs, condensate management at 85% apron humidity, and AHRI 430 certification. VRF/VRV systems serve the back-of-house and modular expansions where central plant is uneconomic. Buyers compare casing thermal-bridging, fan-array vs single-fan designs, and energy-recovery wheels for fresh-air make-up.

A sprawling 1980s-era masterplan set in desert pink sandstone, RUH was designed by HOK when Riyadh was still a secondary capital. Four decades later, the city has outgrown it. Terminals 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 now share the load as traffic hit 37.2 million in 2024, and new carrier Riyadh Air prepares to launch before the airport itself is eclipsed by King Salman International just across town.