Cecille's Creativity

In 1981, an airport at Jeddah in western Saudi Arabia became the world's largest. Two years later, Saudi Arabia completed an even larger airport at the capital, Riyadh.

King Abdul-Aziz International Airport at Jeddah was built mainly to receive the nearly two million Muslim pilgrims who visit Mecca each year.

The airport site covers 45 square miles. There are two main runways and four terminals. The Haj terminal, the world's largest roofed building, covers more than half a square mile. In style, it resembles a cluster of nomads' tents, but it has marble walls and glass-fiber roofs.

In 1983, the even larger King Khaled Airport opened at Riyadh. This also has two runways and four terminals. There is a royal pavilion, as we ll as covered parking for 7,700 cars, and buildings for the people who live and work there.