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Data source: OurAirports (2026-09-01 Snapshot) · Methodology & Verification →

Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport

Compiled by Bill Gao

Harare, Harare Metropolitan Province (Zimbabwe)

IATA: HRE ICAO: FVRG

Longest Active Runway

15,502 ft

4,725 meters

Field Elevation

4,887 ft

1,490 m MSL

Runway Inventory

1 active

Lighted / Paved

Coordinates & Class

-17.9318°, 31.0928°

LARGE AIRPORT

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Multi-Universe Rankings & Statistical Standing

How ranks work →

RunwayFacts Published Dataset

#5 of 650

In curated primary commercial index

Global Commercial Universe

#10 of 7558

Top <0.1% percentile worldwide

National Standing (Zimbabwe)

#1 of 2 in ZW

#1 of 9 in full national registry

vs Large Airport Median

+55%

Compared to 10,000 ft baseline

💡 HRE in numbers: 15,502 ft longest runway · #5 of 650 published · #10 of 7,558 worldwide (top <0.1%) · #1 in Zimbabwe.

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Editorial Aerodrome Deep Dive: Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport (HRE)

Curated Aerodrome Profile

Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport in Harare features one of civil aviation's most formidable physical runways. Situated on the high Zimbabwean plateau at 4,887 ft above sea level, summer midday temperatures degrade air density substantially. The extraordinary 15,502 ft asphalt runway ensures that intercontinental widebodies can carry full passenger, cargo, and fuel loads direct to Europe without refueling stops.

Runway Layout & Magnetic Alignments

Single paved Runway 05/23 (15,502 ft / 4,725 m).

Expansion Milestones & Predecessor Facilities

Opened in 1956 as Salisbury Airport; renamed Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport in 2017. Commissioned a comprehensive Chinese-funded terminal modernization in 2023.

Regional Differentiation & Cluster Role

Primary aviation gateway of Zimbabwe, located 148 NM northeast of Bulawayo (BUQ).

Data Nuances & Operational Quirks

Runway 05/23 measures an extraordinary 15,502 ft (4,725 m)—among the longest civil runways in the world—engineered explicitly to counter severe hot-and-high density altitude at 4,887 ft elevation.

📚 Official Aerodrome Sourcing: Zimbabwe National Civil Aviation Authority · State Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) & ICAO Annex 14 Standards

Verification Methodology →

🔬 Operational & Aerodrome Engineering Comparative Analysis

Longest runway ≥10,500 ft

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Elevation & National Context

Mid-Altitude Aerodrome (2,000–4,999 ft)

HRE lies at 1,490 m (4,887 ft), #47 of 650 published airports by elevation and 92.5 percentile among 7,558 worldwide. It is 698 ft above the Zimbabwe median (4,189 ft, 2 airports) and the highest published airport in the country.

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Regional Density & Alternates (100 NM)

0 Qualifying Aerodromes in Vicinity

No published neighbour with a paved runway of 5,000 ft or more within 100 NM of HRE. Nearest published airport: Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (LUN), 218 NM, 12,998 ft (2,504 ft shorter than HRE); 1 within 250 NM.

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Runway Inventory & National Standing

Primary Runway: 15,502 ft (4,725 m)

HRE runway: 05/23 15,502 × 151 ft asphalt (asp). National standing: #1 of 2 in Zimbabwe; 2,379 ft ahead of VFA (13,123 ft). +55% vs the 10,000 ft baseline.

🛫 Physical Runway Inventory & Surface Engineering

Runway Designator	Length (ft / m)	Width (ft / m)	Surface Material	Lighting	Status
05/23	15,502 ft (4725 m / 4.725 km)	151 ft (46m)	`Asphalt (ASP)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active

🛡️ Source: OurAirports Open Aviation Database, snapshot 2026-09-01 · Provenance →