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The new terminal project at Banjul International Airport

Last checked 24 October 2026 · 11 sources

Short answer

The Ministry of Transport, Works and Infrastructure and the Gambia Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) invited bids in 2025 for a new passenger terminal at Banjul International Airport. The winning firm would design, build, finance, operate, maintain and transfer the terminal under a public-private partnership 1. Bids were due on 27 June 2025 1. This site found no award notice as of 24 October 2026 2. Earlier works on the existing terminal were financed by Kuwaiti, Saudi and OPEC funds 6.
Status
Tendered in 2025, no award found as of 24 October 2026 1,2
Model
Design, build, finance, operate, maintain and transfer (DBFOMT) 1
Contracting authority
Ministry of Transport, Works and Infrastructure 1
Reference
MOTWI/PPP/2025/RFP/04/28 on the GCAA file 1
Bid deadline
27 June 2025, 12:30 pm GMT 1
Bidding document fee
US$15,000, non-refundable 1
Earlier Phase II works
US$34.9 million total cost, completed 6

The 2025 tender

The invitation covers a new airport terminal and related ancillary facilities at Banjul International Airport. The ministry is the contracting authority 1. The notice says growth in air transport demand has caused congestion of the aircraft apron and the passenger terminal. It says related infrastructure such as the runway needs rehabilitation 1.

The notice says the aims are to meet international safety and security standards, improve operational efficiency and keep the airport competitive with others in the region 1. It gives no cost estimate, capacity figure or public funding amount 1.

Bidders had to buy the bidding document for US$15,000 and collect it from the Directorate of Public Private Partnership at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, Ashobi Store, 2nd floor, Banjul. Proposals went to the same office in sealed envelopes 1.

The GCAA tenders page shows the notice uploaded on 2 May 2025 2. The Point printed the notice on 5 May 2025 with the reference MOTWI/PPP/2024/RFP/04/28 3. The GCAA file gives MOTWI/PPP/2025/RFP/04/28 1. The two references differ only in the year.

What is known since the deadline

An unsigned open letter in The Point's editorial section on 18 August 2025 described the tender as a 25-year DBFOMT concession and said tenders were coming in. It named no bidders 4.

The GCAA tenders page lists the 2025 invitation and no award notice (viewed October 2026) 2. This site found no published shortlist, preferred bidder, signed contract or National Assembly approval. Status: tendered, outcome not announced.

Earlier works on the existing terminal

The Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development lent 3,100,000 Kuwaiti dinars, about US$10,850,000, for Phase II of the Banjul International Airport Improvement Project. The Point reported the signing on 31 March 2008 5. The scope included a larger apron, two new taxiways, a fire and ambulance station and rehabilitation of the terminal and control tower 5. The article put the total cost at about D776.66 million and named the Saudi Fund and the OPEC Fund as co-financiers. It said completion was expected by mid-2010 5.

The OPEC Fund approved US$8 million for Phase II on 11 March 2009 and signed on 18 June 2009. It gives a total project cost of US$34.9 million, names the GCAA as executing agency and lists the project as completed 6.

On 19 September 2019 the Gambia Tourism Board said a terminal overhaul cost in excess of $14 million, according to the Civil Aviation Authority. It listed larger arrival and departure areas, twice as many check-in counters, new X-ray machines and new conveyor belts, with completion expected in mid-2020 7. A National Assembly joint committee said in a report on a 2019 motion that about 90 percent of the rehabilitation works were complete 11.

In June 2020 the National Assembly referred an additional loan of 45,000,000 Saudi riyals from the Saudi Fund for Development, for phase 2 of the airport rehabilitation, to three committees for scrutiny 8. In November 2021 the Saudi Fund announced the completion of the Banjul International Airport Rehabilitation and Development Project. It said its US$31 million loan would raise the airport's operating capacity by 43 percent, as reported by Middle East Construction News 9.

These sources give different amounts for overlapping phases of work. This site could not match them to one total.

Related plans

The national aviation safety plan for 2026 to 2028, dated November 2025, sets a target to certify Banjul International Airport under ICAO Annex 14 by the end of 2028 10. It plans a Gambia Airport Management Agency Act by the end of 2028, linked to separating the GCAA's regulatory role from its role as airport operator 10. Status: proposed.

Who does what

  • Ministry of Transport, Works and Infrastructure: contracting authority for the new terminal 1.
  • Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, Directorate of Public Private Partnership: sells the bidding document and receives proposals 1.
  • Gambia Civil Aviation Authority: co-issuer of the 2025 notice 1 and executing agency of the earlier Phase II works 6.
  • Kuwait Fund, Saudi Fund for Development and OPEC Fund: lenders for the earlier rehabilitation 5,69.

Common questions

Has a company won the contract for the new Banjul airport terminal?

This site found no award notice as of 24 October 2026. The GCAA tenders page lists only the 2025 invitation 2.

Who will pay for the new terminal?

The tender asks the private partner to finance, build and operate the terminal before transfer 1. The notice gives no public funding amount 1.

When was the current terminal last renovated?

The Saudi Fund for Development announced the completion of a rehabilitation and development project in November 2021 9.

Will passenger charges rise to pay for the terminal?

The tender notice does not mention passenger charges 1.

Rules and charges change. Check the official source linked on this page before you pay or travel. Spotted an error? Email hello@gambiaairportguide.com.

Sources

  1. Ministry of Transport, Works and Infrastructure and GCAA: Invitation to bid for the construction of a new airport terminal, MOTWI/PPP/2025/RFP/04/28 (bids due 27 June 2025)
  2. Gambia Civil Aviation Authority: Tenders (official page, notice dated 2 May 2025)
  3. The Point: Invitation to bid for the construction of a new airport terminal and related ancillary facilities, published notice (5 May 2025)
  4. The Point, editorial section, unsigned: Good Morning Mr President, guiding The Gambia's decision on Banjul Intl Airport concession (18 August 2025)
  5. The Point: Gambia govt signs US$10,850,000 for airport improvement (31 March 2008)
  6. OPEC Fund for International Development: Banjul Airport Rehabilitation Project (Phase II), operations list (approved 11 March 2009)
  7. Gambia Tourism Board, written by Malick Jeng, member news on ATTA: Massive renovation of The Gambia's airport (19 September 2019)
  8. The Point, as reported by Ismaila Sonko: Deputies refer 45m Saudi riyals loan agreement for scrutiny (17 June 2020)
  9. Middle East Construction News, as reported by Gavin Davids: SFD announces completion of US$31m Gambian airport development project (21 November 2021)
  10. Ministry of Transport, Works and Infrastructure and GCAA: The Gambia National Aviation Safety Plan 2026 to 2028, issue 1 (November 2025)
  11. National Assembly of The Gambia: Report of the Joint Committee on the ratification of bilateral air service agreements between The Gambia and twelve other countries (posted 24 June 2026)

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