Prices & districts
What is being built around Pattaya in 2026–2028
When you buy a condo for years ahead, it helps to know what will change around it: where a bigger airport will appear, where the beach gets wider, and which projects are still on paper. We gathered the major projects from official sources and the Thai press and honestly split them into "under construction" and "planned".
In short
- Under construction: U-Tapao airport second runway (by end-2028), work on the new terminal has started, and phase two of Jomtien beach widening is under way.
- Still planned: the high-speed rail through Pattaya, a monorail, the EECiti city in Huai Yai and a cruise terminal at Bali Hai.
- Big projects in Thailand often slip, so buy what you like today and treat new infrastructure as a bonus.
In short: what is being built and what is planned
"Under construction" means a contract is signed and work is on. "Planned" means the project is at the study, environmental review or government discussion stage.
| Project | Where | Status | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| U-Tapao airport second runway | 40 minutes south of Pattaya | Under construction | end of 2028 |
| New U-Tapao terminal and aviation city | same area | Work started | terminal around 2031 |
| Motorway 7 link to U-Tapao | Ban Chang, Rayong | Under construction | 2028–2029 |
| Jomtien beach widening, phase two | Jomtien | Under construction | 2027 |
| "Three airports" high-speed rail | Bangkok, Pattaya, U-Tapao | Uncertain | decision expected November 2026 |
| EECiti | Huai Yai, East Pattaya | Planned | construction from 2028 |
| Monorail | central Pattaya | Planned | no dates |
| Flood protection, urgent phase | centre, Naklua, Huai Yai | Planned | 2027–2030 |
| Cruise terminal | Bali Hai cape, Pratumnak | Planned | no dates |
Statuses as of early November 2026.
U-Tapao airport: second runway and new terminal
U-Tapao airport is about 40 minutes' drive south of Pattaya. It is a small airport today, but it is the centre of the region's biggest project.
- Second runway. About 3.5 km long, contractor ITD, a ฿13.2 billion contract financed by the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). Construction started in November 2025 and is due to finish by the end of 2028.
- New terminal and Eastern Aviation City. A 50-year concession; the notice to proceed was issued on 3 April 2026. The first phase of the terminal is designed for 3 million passengers a year and is planned to open in 2031.
- A motorway 7 link straight to the airport. About 2 km of new road plus 5.65 km of widening on Route 3, financed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Completion is reported for 2028–2029.
For Pattaya residents this means more direct flights in the future without going via Bangkok. But the new terminal will not open before 2031; until then most people fly in through Suvarnabhumi, about 1.5 – 2 hours by car.
High-speed rail: still uncertain
A line from Bangkok's Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi airports to U-Tapao with a station in Pattaya has been discussed for years. In 2026 the concessionaire said it wants to leave the contract, the State Railway does not accept that, and a simpler option is now on the table: a train of up to 160 km/h on the existing line. A decision is expected at the EEC committee in November 2026. There are no construction dates yet, so it is too early to count on the train when choosing a condo.
East Pattaya: EECiti
In Huai Yai, east of the motorway, a new business "smart city" called EECiti is planned: a first phase of about 5,800 rai, with infrastructure estimated at ฿72 billion under a public-private partnership. An investor survey was held in summer 2026, the tender winner is expected around the end of 2027 and construction from 2028. It is a 10 – 15 year project, still at the preparation stage.
How people live in East Pattaya and what they buy there: East Pattaya: Mabprachan and Huai Yai.
Jomtien: a wider beach
The Marine Department is running phase two of the Jomtien beach widening: about 2.85 km of shore towards Pattaya Park, with the beach widened by 30–50 metres. The contract is about ฿318 million; more than 30% was done by May 2026 and the contract ends in July 2027. Phase one, 3.5 km, was completed earlier, so that stretch already has a wide sandy beach.
For anyone choosing a seaside condo in Jomtien this is good news: by 2027 the beach will be wider along almost its whole length. The area itself is covered in Jomtien: condos and life by the sea.
Central Pattaya: monorail and flood protection
- Monorail. The city is preparing three light-rail lines; the first, the Green Line, runs about 9 km from the future railway station to Bali Hai pier. An environmental review is under way, with hearings in autumn 2026 and a report in early 2027. The government still has to approve the project, and there are no construction dates.
- Flood protection. A ฿26 billion master plan covers the centre, Naklua and Huai Yai. An urgent ฿2.75 billion phase is planned for 2027–2030 and was presented to the prime minister in April 2026; there is no separate government decision on it yet.
Pratumnak: a cruise terminal at Bali Hai
The Marine Department proposes a cruise terminal about a kilometre off Bali Hai cape, estimated at ฿7.4 billion. In 2025 the public-private partnership committee sent the project back for revision and asked for a new environmental review. There are no dates yet.
How to factor this into your choice
- Choose an area for what it has today: the beach, shops, the commute and schools. New infrastructure is a bonus, not a reason to buy.
- Big projects in Thailand often slip by years, and sometimes they are redesigned entirely, like the high-speed rail.
- Construction next to a building means noise and road closures while it lasts: ask what is being built nearby, especially for resale buildings on the beachfront.
We follow these projects and update this article when their status changes. If you want to know how they affect a specific area or building, Natalia will explain and shortlist options.
FAQ
When will the new U-Tapao airport terminal open?
According to the concessionaire, the first phase for 3 million passengers a year is planned to open in 2031. The second runway is being built by the end of 2028.
Will there be a high-speed train to Pattaya?
Not yet known. The concessionaire wants to leave the contract, and a simpler train of up to 160 km/h is being considered. A decision is expected at the EEC committee in November 2026; there are no construction dates.
Will Jomtien beach get wider?
Yes. Phase two of the widening covers 2.85 km and adds 30–50 metres of beach; the contract ends in July 2027.
Sources
- AIIB: проект расширения аэропорта У-Тапао
- The Nation, 08.08.2024: подрядчик второй полосы У-Тапао
- Pattaya Mail, 24.10.2026: вторая полоса У-Тапао готова на 30%
- EEC: аэропорт У-Тапао и Восточный авиагород
- The Nation, 03.04.2026: начало работ по авиагороду
- ADB: съезд с мотовея к У-Тапао
- Thansettakij, 19.06.2025: съезд с мотовея, подрядчик и сроки
- The Nation, 26.10.2026: скоростная железная дорога под угрозой
- Pattaya Mail, 06.07.2026: вариант поезда 160 км/ч
- Thansettakij, 22.07.2026: EECiti, модель PPP
- Pattaya Mail, 05.08.2026: EECiti, стройка с 2028
- Pattaya Mail, 19.11.2025: намыв Джомтьена, второй этап
- Pattaya Mail, 07.05.2026: намыв Джомтьена, 30%
- ONEP: намыв пляжа Джомтьен, первый этап
- Khaosod English, 24.10.2025: Зелёная линия монорельса
- Pattaya Mail, 16.08.2026: экспертиза трёх линий монорельса
- Pattaya Mail, 27.04.2026: срочный этап защиты от подтоплений
- Thai PBS, 26.09.2021: генплан защиты от подтоплений
- The Nation, 24.08.2025: круизный терминал отправлен на доработку
This article is for general information and is not legal or tax advice. Laws, fees and project terms change: before a deal we check the current conditions for the specific property.
