French firm in advanced talks for Al-Ula tram
17 May 2023
Saudi Arabia's Royal Commission for Al-Ula (RCU) is engaged in advanced discussions with France's Alstom regarding implementing an electric tram in Al-Ula.
The RCU has specified certain technical requirements to ensure that the electrification of the rail system remains concealed from the view of travellers in order to provide an authentic journey experience, sources have told MEED.
These constraints have led potential bidders, such as Japan's Hitachi, to withdraw from the project.
The proposed tram network will cover a distance of 50 kilometres (km), extending from Al-Ula International airport in the south to Hegra City in the north.
Its purpose is to connect landmarks and historical heritage sites in the governorate.
The northern Red Line of the tram will link various landmarks and archaeological sites, including those outlined in the RCU's comprehensive Journey Through Time masterplan.
The initial phase of the network will stretch for 22km, with phase two expanding it to 33km, running from the south to the airport.
In July 2022, the RCU appointed French engineering company Systra for the project design.
In April 2021, the RCU unveiled an investment plan worth SR57bn ($15bn) to regenerate the Al-Ula tourism destination in the Medina region. Under this plan, approximately $3.2bn has been allocated for infrastructure development, including constructing an environmentally friendly tramway and establishing renewable energy sources to meet 50 per cent of the development's energy requirements.
To ensure the successful delivery and operation of the infrastructure projects in Al-Ula, the RCU signed a long-term strategic partnership in October 2022 with a French consortium consisting of Egis, Assystem and Setec. This consortium will bring expertise in infrastructure programme management and construction management, supporting the timely completion of Al-Ula's most urgent projects and the region's long-term development, including implementing the Al-Ula tramway.
The comprehensive development plan for Al-Ula is divided into three phases, scheduled to be completed by 2035. Phase one of the masterplan is nearing completion, while phase two is set to commence at the end of 2023.
MEED's latest special report on Saudi Arabia includes:
> GIGAPROJECTS: Saudi Arabia under project pressure
> ECONOMY: Riyadh steps up the Vision 2030 tempo
> CONSTRUCTION: Saudi construction project ramp-up accelerates
> UPSTREAM: Aramco slated to escalate upstream spending
> DOWNSTREAM: Petchems ambitions define Saudi downstream
> POWER: Saudi Arabia reinvigorates power sector
> WATER: Saudi water begins next growth phase
> BANKING: Saudi banks bid to keep ahead of the pack
> DATABANK: Riyadh holds its buoyant economic heading
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Dubai seeks consultants for drainage projects6 February 2026
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Modon tenders Ras El-Hekma construction contracts6 February 2026
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Egypt contractor secures €58m loan for Hungary power plant6 February 2026
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AD Ports signs Jordan Aqaba port PPP deal6 February 2026
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Chinese firm wins Ceer automotive supplier park deal6 February 2026
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Dubai Municipality has invited consultants to qualify for a contract to supervise three stormwater drainage projects under the $8bn Tasreef programme.
The contract, titled TF-15-S1 Supervision of Stormwater Drainage System projects – Package 2, will be awarded as a single package with dedicated teams assigned to each project.
The request for qualifications (RFQs) was issued by the municipality’s Sewerage and Recycled Water Projects Department (SRPD).
The bid submission deadline is 26 February.
The first scheme under the package is TF-16-C1, which involves upgrading and rehabilitating the stormwater system east of the Dubai Canal.
The second, TF-15-C2, will deliver stormwater links along Umm Suqeim Road to serve the Al-Barsha and Al-Quoz communities.
The third project, TF-13-C1, focuses on developing a drainage system for the Al-Marmum area.
Several engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracts have been awarded under the Tasreef initiative, which aims to expand Dubai’s rainwater drainage capacity by 700% by 2033
In January, local firm DeTech Contracting won the main contract to construct a stormwater drainage system in Jebel Ali.
The project, listed under TF-05-C1, covers approximately 27 kilometres of stormwater network and will serve major transport routes, including Sheikh Zayed Road and Al-Jamayel Road.
Separately, Dubai Municipality has opened bidding for EPC contracts to expand and rehabilitate the emirate’s sewerage networks.
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READ THE FEBRUARY 2026 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDFSpending on oil and gas production surges; Doha’s efforts support extraordinary growth in 2026; Water sector regains momentum in 2025.
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Modon tenders Ras El-Hekma construction contracts
6 February 2026
Abu Dhabi-based developer Modon Holding has tendered several contracts as part of the first phase of development at Ras El-Hekma, a planned new city on Egypt’s Mediterranean coast.
MEED understands that the tenders were issued in January.
These include:
DP3 assets: covering 146 residential villas, 590 three-bedroom townhouses, 356 four-bedroom townhouses, a mall and other associated works.
Bids due on 23 February.
DP4 assets: DP4 includes 54 villas, a clubhouse and other associated infrastructure.
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DP5 assets: The scope covers the construction of two hotels, branded residences, a retail facility and other associated works.
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DP6 assets: This package covers a 200-key Montage hotel, 96-unit Montage-branded residences and related infrastructure.
Bids due on 17 March.
DP7 assets: 120 five-bedroom villas, 230 seven-bedroom villas, 284 branded residential units and other infrastructural works.
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MEED understands that the contract duration for all these packages is 21 months from the start of construction.
Modon has accelerated development works at Ras El-Hekma this year. In January, MEED reported that Modon Holding had awarded a E£15bn ($316m) contract for the construction of a project at Ras El-Hekma.
The contract was awarded to the local firm Orascom Construction.
The scope of the contract covers the construction of residential units, commercial facilities and a 70-key hotel.
In September, MEED reported that Modon Holding had tendered contracts for the infrastructure works for the first phase of the Ras El-Hekma project.
As part of the first phase, Modon plans to develop more than 50 million square metres (sq m), including hotels and a marina.
Ras El-Hekma is on a spur of land on Egypt’s northern Mediterranean coastline, about 240 kilometres west of Alexandria.
Last year, Abu Dhabi-based holding company ADQ appointed Modon Holding as the master developer for the Ras El-Hekma project.
According to an official statement, Modon will act as the master developer for the entire development, which will cover more than 170 million sq m.
Modon Holding will develop the first phase of the project, which will cover 50 million sq m.
The remaining 120 million sq m will be developed in partnership with private developers under the supervision of the recently established ADQ subsidiary Ras El-Hekma Urban Development Project Company and Modon Holding.
In September 2024, Modon signed several memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with local and international firms to join the development. It signed a framework agreement with Orascom Construction to serve as the primary contractor for the project’s first phase.
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Egypt contractor secures €58m loan for Hungary power plant
6 February 2026
Commercial International Bank Egypt (CIB) has provided €58m in credit facilities to local firm Elsewedy Electric for the construction of a combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power plant in Hungary.
Located in Visonta, the plant will be the largest combined-cycle facility built in Hungary in decades and the country’s first power plant capable of using hydrogen.
Once complete, hydrogen will be able to supply up to 30% of the plant’s fuel needs.
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It was awarded by MVM Matra Energia, a subsidiary of Hungary’s state-owned power holding company Magya Villamos Muvek (MVM).
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Total investment in the scheme is estimated at about €700m, with CIB acting as the sole financier for Elsewedy Electric’s portion of the project.
Construction officially began last September, with commercial operations scheduled for 2028.
The scheme also represents Elsewedy Electric’s first major investment in Europe, adding to other foreign investment interests.
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AD Ports signs Jordan Aqaba port PPP deal
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Abu Dhabi’s AD Ports Group has signed an agreement with Jordan’s Aqaba Development Corporation (ADC) to manage and operate the Aqaba multipurpose port.
AD Ports will manage and operate the port under a 30-year concession agreement.
Under the agreement, AD Ports and ADC will establish a joint venture to oversee port operations.
AD Ports will hold a 70% stake in the joint venture, with the remaining 30% held by ADC.
AD Ports Group will also invest AED141m ($38.4m) in the joint venture.
The signing ceremony was held at the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority headquarters in Aqaba on 5 February.
The agreement was signed by Hussein Safadi, CEO of ADC, and Ahmed Al-Mutawa, regional CEO of AD Ports Group.
Aqaba port handles about 80% of Jordan’s exports and 65% of its imports.
It serves as a key transit point for Jordan’s neighbouring countries, including Saudi Arabia and Iraq. The port has an annual handling capacity of 11 million tonnes, supported by nine berths, a quay length of 2 kilometres and a draft of 13.5 metres.
In 2025, the terminal handled over 5.3 million tonnes of cargo and nearly 85,000 car equivalent units of Ro-Ro imports.
Abu Dhabi has been deeply involved in making investments in Jordan’s infrastructure sector. In February last year, AD Ports Group signed an agreement to manage and operate the Al-Madouneh customs centre in Amman, as MEED reported.
The Al-Madouneh customs centre covers about 1.3 million square metres (sq m) and was inaugurated in June last year.
The announcement followed AD Ports Group’s signing of a shareholders’ agreement in January 2024 between its digital arm, Maqta Gateway, and Jordan’s Aqaba Development Corporation regarding their existing joint-venture company, Maqta Ayla.
The joint venture company will upgrade operations at the Aqaba port complex in Jordan by implementing a port community system “that leverages Maqta Gateway’s expertise, also marking the first-ever export of Abu Dhabi’s key port digitalisation solution”, AD Ports said in a statement.
AD Ports Group operates the Aqaba cruise terminal, and selected Dubai-based real estate developer Mag Group to lead the first phase of the Marsa Zayed mixed-use project.
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Chinese firm wins Ceer automotive supplier park deal
6 February 2026
Beijing-headquartered Metallurgical Construction Corporation (MCC) has won a contract to undertake the steel structure works on the Ceer automotive supplier park in King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC).
The supplier park is located next to Ceer’s electric vehicle (EV) production facility in KAEC.
The automotive supplier park will include production and ancillary facilities for various suppliers and provide the material supply infrastructure for Ceer’s EV plant.
The facilities include:
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- Seat supplier – Lear Corporation (US)
Earlier this week, MEED exclusively reported that Ceer had awarded a contract to build the automotive supplier park to Jeddah-based construction firm Modern Building Leaders (MBL).
Netherlands-based engineering firm Arcadis is the project consultant, and Pac Project Advisors is the project management consultant.
Ceer retendered the project in September last year.
The latest contract award is another significant contract win for MCC in Saudi Arabia. In January, MEED reported that MCC had won a contract to undertake the steel structure works on Mohammed Bin Salman Stadium at the Qiddiya City project on the outskirts of Riyadh.
The 45,000-seat stadium will feature a fully combined retractable pitch, roof and LED wall.
The stadium’s main construction works are being undertaken by a joint venture of Spanish firm FCC Construction and local firm Nesma & Partners.
In January, MCC won another contract to undertake steel structure works for the expansion of Medina airport in Saudi Arabia.
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