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  Egis to supervise Riyadh Kafd monorail construction

  26 August 2025

  French engineering firm Egis Group has confirmed that it has been selected by King Abdullah Financial District Development & Management Company (Kafd DMC) for a contract to supervise the construction of the Kafd monorail project.

  In an official statement published on its website, Egis said that, in its role as site supervision consultant, “its scope includes supervision of rolling stock, rail systems, civil and structural works, mechanical, electrical and plumbing, architecture, utilities and landscaping.”

  “Egis is also tasked with reviewing and approving shop drawings, method statements and material submittals, while overseeing critical compliance and quality control processes throughout the project’s construction phase,” the statement added.

  Earlier this week, MEED reported that Kafd DMC expects to begin monorail operations in 2027.

  According to local media reports, Faddy Alaql, chief asset delivery officer at Kafd, said construction is anticipated to begin by the end of this year, with the project ready for commissioning by 2027.

  The scope of work includes the construction of a 3.6-kilometre elevated monorail in a loop configuration, with six elevated stations and six trains – each consisting of two carriages.

  The monorail will connect public buildings within Kafd and integrate with the Riyadh Metro system.

  It is expected to carry up to 3,500 passengers an hour during peak times.

  In October last year, MEED exclusively reported that Kafd DMC had awarded an estimated SR1.2bn ($320m) deal to complete its monorail project at Riyadh’s King Abdullah Financial District.

  The contract was awarded to the joint venture of Egyptian contractor Hassan Allam and Chinese rolling stock provider CRRC.

  French engineering firm Systra is understood to have updated the technical and supervision studies for both systems and civil engineering works.

  Project background

  According to data from regional projects tracker MEED Projects, the scheme was put on hold in 2016 after a decade of planning.

  In 2010, Bombardier, now part of French firm Alstom, won a $241m contract to build the monorail.

  Bombardier, in partnership with local contractor Saudi Oger, was selected to provide its Innovia operation and maintenance services for the system over a 10-year period.

  Located in Riyadh, Kafd is a mixed-use development managed by Kafd DMC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the kingdom’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).

  Rayadah Investment Corporation previously managed the district.

  Construction contracts for several towers in the district were awarded in 2009.

  The project stalled when work was approximately 70% complete and later resumed in 2018, after the PIF took over from the Public Pension Agency in 2016-17.

  

  https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/14542797/main.jpg

  Yasir Iqbal
• 
  Dubai’s RTA awards airport road bridge deal

  26 August 2025

  Dubai’s Roads & Transport Authority (RTA), in partnership with Dubai Aviation City Corporation (DACC), has awarded a contract for the expansion and enhancement of the bridge leading to Terminal One of Dubai International airport (DXB).

  The project will expand the existing bridge from three lanes to four, using a steel box girder system combined with a composite concrete slab.

  The bridge will measure 171 metres in length, including its ramps, with the central span measuring 70 metres.

  The upgrade is expected to boost the bridge’s capacity from 4,200 to 5,600 vehicles an hour, representing a 33% increase. 

  This project aims to improve traffic flow, minimise journey times and accommodate rising passenger numbers, which surpassed 92 million in 2024. 

  Previously, the RTA completed works on Airport Street from Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road to Casablanca Street. 

  This project involved building bridges and tunnels, and modifying intersections to facilitate access to DXB. 

  The RTA also constructed a single-lane bridge for direct access to DXB’s Terminal Three, a bridge to the Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects complex, and another single-lane bridge for traffic from Airport Street to Casablanca Street.  

  Additionally, Casablanca Street was widened from three to four lanes in the direction of Al-Garhoud bridge. 

  

  https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/14542143/main.jpg

  Yasir Iqbal
• 
  Kafd monorail in Riyadh to commence operations in 2027

  25 August 2025

  Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah Financial District Development & Management Company (Kafd DMC) is expected to begin monorail operations in 2027.

  According to local media reports, Faddy Alaql, chief asset delivery officer at Kafd, said construction is anticipated to begin by the end of this year, with the project ready for commissioning by 2027.

  The scope of work includes the construction of a 3.6-kilometre elevated monorail in a loop configuration, with six elevated stations and six trains – each consisting of two carriages.

  The monorail will connect public buildings within Kafd and integrate with the Riyadh Metro system.

  It is expected to carry up to 3,500 passengers an hour during peak times.

  In October last year, MEED exclusively reported that Kafd DMC had awarded an estimated SR1.2bn ($320m) deal to complete its monorail project at Riyadh’s King Abdullah Financial District.

  The contract was awarded to the joint venture of Egyptian contractor Hassan Allam and Chinese rolling stock provider CRRC.

  French engineering firm Systra is understood to have updated the technical and supervision studies for both systems and civil engineering works.

  Project background

  According to data from regional projects tracker MEED Projects, the scheme was put on hold in 2016 after a decade of planning.

  In 2010, Bombardier, now part of French firm Alstom, won a $241m contract to build the monorail.

  Bombardier, in partnership with local contractor Saudi Oger, was selected to provide its Innovia operation and maintenance services for the system over a 10-year period.

  Located in Riyadh, Kafd is a mixed-use development managed by Kafd DMC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the kingdom’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).

  The district was previously managed by Rayadah Investment Corporation.

  Construction contracts for several towers in the district were awarded in 2009.

  The project stalled when work was approximately 70% complete and later resumed in 2018, after the PIF took over from the Public Pension Agency in 2016-17.

  

  https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/14535623/main.jpg

  Yasir Iqbal
• 
  Iraq deploys Turkish power ships to ease electricity shortfall

  25 August 2025

  Iraq’s Ministry of Electricity has begun deploying electricity-generating ships to bolster the national power system. The first Turkish vessel, capable of producing 125MW, arrived at Umm Qasr Port on Thursday.

  Minister of Electricity Ziyad Ali Fadhil told the Iraqi News Agency that the ships are part of a government plan to add 600MW to the national grid while reducing reliance on imported fuel.

  “The Council of Ministers has taken decisions related to purchasing energy through barges to enhance the electricity system’s production and reduce dependence on imported fuel,” he said.

  The second vessel, Orka Sultan, arrived at Khor Al-Zubair Port in Basra province on Saturday. It docked at berth 13 and has the same capacity of 125MW, bringing the combined output of the two vessels to 250MW.

  Fadhil said the first barge will be fully docked at the quay within seven days of fuel delivery and will begin generating electricity within the same period. 

  Preparations are under way to supply gas oil fuel for the operation of both stations once the operating company takes over.

  The vessels are part of a project led by BKPS, a Karpowership affiliate, to deploy its signature powerships to support Iraq’s energy security.

  The deployment comes as Iraq faces near-nationwide blackouts, with recent temperatures as high as 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit) driving electricity demand for air conditioning.

  The country periodically suffers from power outages, especially during the summer months, when increased cooling requirements overwhelm its power plants and electricity grid.  

  The country’s power shortfall has been exacerbated by underinvestment in infrastructure, repeated heatwaves and disruptions to gas imports from neighbouring Iran.

  The Turkish vessels are part of a broader model of floating power stations, often deployed by companies such as Karpowership to countries needing electricity but lacking the time or resources to build permanent onshore capacity.

  Karpowership said in a statement that it will “provide electricity for an initial contract period of 71 days”, helping to stabilise the national grid and meet demand.

  

  https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/14534752/main.jpg

  Mark Dowdall
• 
  Acwa Power, SEC and Kepco close $4bn Saudi IPP deals

  25 August 2025

  Register for MEED’s 14-day trial access 

  Acwa Power, Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) and Korea Electric Power Corporation (Kepco) have achieved financial close for the 3,600MW Rumah 1 and Nairyah 1 independent power producer (IPP) projects in Saudi Arabia. The two projects represent a total investment of about SR15bn ($4bn).

  Saudi Power Procurement Company is the principal buyer for the projects, responsible for tendering and power offtake. Ownership of the project companies, Remal Energy Company for Rumah 1 and Naseem Energy Company for Nairyah 1, is split between Acwa Power (35%), SEC (35%) and Kepco (30%).

  The projects form part of the Saudi Energy Ministry’s plan to maximise local power supply in line with Vision 2030.

  They also support the kingdom’s net-zero 2060 target and allow for future integration of carbon capture facilities.

  Financing was secured from a syndicate of local, regional and international lenders, including Export Import Bank of Korea, Saudi National Bank, Saudi Investment Bank, Banque Saudi Fransi, Standard Chartered Bank, Bank of China, Agricultural Bank of China, Industrial & Commercial Bank of China and Arab Petroleum Investments Corporation.

  MEED reported in Novemeber that the Acwa, SEC and Kepco consortium had won the contracts to develop the two combined-cycle gas turbine IPPs. Tokyo-headquartered Mitsubishi Power was to supply the gas turbines to power the plants.

  The team offered a levelised electricity cost of 4.5859 $cents a kilowatt-hour ($c/kWh) for Rumah 1 and 4.6114 $c/kWh for Nairiyah 1.

  Rumah 1 involves the construction of a combined-cycle gas turbine plant with a capacity of 1,800MW in Riyadh Province. The project will be developed by Remal Energy Company with an investment of SR7.5bn ($2bn).

  Nairyah 1, also with a capacity of 1,800MW, will be built in the Eastern Province and developed by Naseem Energy Company. The investment value is about SR7.5bn ($2bn)

  

  https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/14534558/main3558.jpg

  Mark Dowdall