Sabt Alalayah Airstrip

Sabt Alalayah, SA πŸ‡ΈπŸ‡¦ Closed Airport

ICAO

SA-0077

IATA

-

Elevation

- ft

Region

SA-14

Local Time

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Airport Information

GPS Code: Not available

Local Code: Not available

Location: 19.67209Β° N, 41.981796Β° E

Continent: AS

Type: Closed Airport

Terminal Information Not Available
Terminal arrivals and departures are only available for airports with scheduled commercial service and IATA codes.

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Airport Information

Airport Closure Information

Last updated: Jul 26, 2025
Closure Date

The airstrip was permanently closed in the mid-2010s, with the most likely timeframe being between 2014 and 2015. Analysis of historical satellite imagery shows the runway was unobstructed in late 2013, but by early 2015, construction of permanent buildings had commenced directly on the southern portion of the runway.

Reason for Closure

The closure was primarily due to economic and infrastructural redundancy following the development of larger, more modern airports in the region. The nearby Bisha Domestic Airport (OEBH/BHH), located approximately 60 km to the northeast, offers superior facilities and scheduled commercial flights, rendering the small, basic airstrip at Sabt Alalayah obsolete. The closure allowed the valuable land to be repurposed for local urban development to support the growing town.

Current Status

The site of the former airstrip is now partially redeveloped. The southern third of the approximately 2.2 km runway is now occupied by a housing or commercial compound. The remaining northern two-thirds of the runway are still visible as a degraded asphalt and dirt track, but it is bisected by local dirt roads and is no longer usable for any aviation purposes. The land has been absorbed into the urban and agricultural fabric of the town.

Historical Significance

Sabt Alalayah Airstrip was a small, domestic airfield that served as a key transportation link for the town of Sabt Alalayah and its surrounding agricultural region in the 'Asir Province. Likely built in the mid-to-late 20th century, it facilitated government transport, mail services, medical evacuations, and limited passenger and cargo operations before the area was fully connected by the modern highway network. Operations would have been restricted to small, durable aircraft capable of handling a basic runway, such as STOL (Short Takeoff and Landing) propeller planes. The non-standard ICAO identifier 'SA-0077' signifies its status as a minor, domestic field not intended for international traffic. It was an important piece of infrastructure for connecting this relatively remote community to regional centers.

Reopening Prospects

There are no plans or prospects for reopening the Sabt Alalayah Airstrip. The permanent construction on the former runway makes reopening physically impossible without major demolition and expense. With the region well-served by the Bisha Domestic Airport, there is no economic or logistical justification to re-establish an airfield at this location.

Nearby Airports

Bisha Airport
BHH β€’ OEBH
Bisha, SA
Medium Airport Scheduled Service
~75 km away
King Saud Bin Abdulaziz (Al Baha) Airport
ABT β€’ OEBA
Al-Baha, SA
Medium Airport Scheduled Service
~78 km away
Distances are approximate and calculated as straight-line distances.

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