Saudi Arabia's Qiddiya rail
project moves ahead with prequalifications
The $5 billion Qiddiya high-speed rail project in
Riyadh has reached a major milestone, receiving prequalification submissions
from interested firms for its public-private partnership (PPP) package. The
submissions were received on April 30 by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City, in
collaboration with Qiddiya Investment Company (QIC) and the National Center for
Privatization & PPP.
The move follows the completion of
prequalification for the engineering, procurement, construction, and financing
(EPCF) package on April 16. The project’s prequalification notice was first
issued on January 19, with a briefing session held on February 23 at Qiddiya
Entertainment City.
Read More 145
companies submit EOIs for Saudi Arabia’s Qiddiya high-speed rail project
Once completed, the high-speed rail
line will connect King Salman International Airport and the King Abdullah
Financial District (KAFD) with Qiddiya, offering travel at speeds of up to 250
kilometers per hour and a transit time of just 30 minutes. The project forms
part of Riyadh’s broader transport development plan, which includes a $1.6
billion road upgrades initiative ahead of Expo 2030.
Two-Phase Development
The Qiddiya high-speed rail will be
delivered in two phases. The first phase will link Qiddiya with KAFD and King
Khalid International Airport, while the second phase will extend from the North
Pole development through New Murabba, King Salman Park, central Riyadh, and the
city’s Industrial City in the south.
Interest in the project has been
strong. According to MEED, more than 145 local and international companies
expressed interest in November 2025, including 68 contracting firms, 23 design
and project management consultants, 16 investment firms, 12 rail operators, 10
rolling stock providers, and 16 additional service firms. French consultancy
Egis serves as technical adviser, UK-based Ernst & Young acts as
transaction adviser, and Ashurst is the project’s legal adviser.
Read More Saudi
Arabia opens bidding for Qiddiya high-speed rail project
Strategic Significance
The Qiddiya rail project is a
cornerstone of Saudi Arabia’s five official gigaprojects, covering 376 square
kilometers. It is expected to enhance connectivity across Riyadh, support
tourism and entertainment, and serve as a critical transport backbone for the
city’s ongoing urban expansion.
The next step for the project will
be tendering and contractor selection, moving closer to making Riyadh’s high-speed
rail vision a reality.
Project Snapshot
- Project Name:
Qiddiya High-Speed Rail (Q-Express)
- Value:
~$5 billion
- Speed:
Up to 250 km/h
- Purpose:
Connect Riyadh to Qiddiya City and key districts
- Status:
PPP prequalification stage completed
- Key Stakeholders:
Royal Commission for Riyadh City, QIC, National Center for Privatization
& PPP
- Advisers:
Egis, Ernst & Young, Ashurst
Source:
Construction Review Online
0 Comments