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Riyadh Metro to become operational this year

22 August 2024

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The Riyadh Metro project is expected to commence its operations before the end of 2024, according to Saudi Arabia's Transport & Logistics Services Minister, Saleh Al-Jasser.

The $23bn project was scheduled to open six years ago, in 2018, but construction activity on the project has slowed in recent years due to disputes over prolongation and the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Arriyadh Development Authority, now the Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC), awarded the main construction packages for the scheme on 28 July 2013.

In November 2022, MEED reported that the three contracting consortiums working on the Riyadh Metro scheme had struck deals regarding the completion of the works for the project with the RCRC.

Once completed, the Riyadh Metro will feature six lines, with a total of 84 stations.

The project aims to contribute to solving traffic congestion. Currently, 90% of trips within the Saudi capital rely on cars.

The development was divided into five major design-and-build packages, with lines one and two as a combined package, and the other lines as single packages. Each package also includes the supply of rolling stock.

Spanish firm FCC Construccion heads up the consortium known as Fast, while US firm Bechtel leads the BACS consortium. Italian firm Ansaldo STS is the leader of the Arriyadh New Mobility group.

The Fast consortium won lines four, five and six, which are reported to be valued at $7.82bn. The BACS consortium picked up lines one and two for $9.45bn, while Arriyadh New Mobility secured line three for $5.21bn.

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Yasir Iqbal

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