Four Global Consortia Submit Bids for 65-km Riyadh Metro Line 7

Riyadh, UAE (Metro Rail Today): Bidding has reached a crucial stage for Riyadh Metro Line 7, with major international and regional consortia now submitting their proposals for one of the most significant urban rail projects currently under development in the Middle East. The submission of bids marks an important milestone for the Riyadh Metro programme, which is central to Saudi Arabia’s long-term vision of transforming urban mobility and reducing dependence on private vehicles.

Riyadh Metro Line 7 is planned as a 65-kilometre corridor with 19 stations, designed to serve fast-growing districts and strengthen east–west and north–south connectivity across the Saudi capital. Once operational, the line is expected to play a defining role in shaping the next phase of Riyadh’s public transport network, complementing the existing metro lines and supporting the city’s rapid population and economic growth.

Strong Global Competition for the Project

According to sources familiar with the bidding process, four major international consortium groupings had been preparing to participate and have now submitted their bids. These include a consortium led by Alstom of France in partnership with Italy’s WeBuild and local firm Nesma, reflecting a blend of global rail expertise and regional execution capability. Another strong contender is the Siemens-led consortium, bringing together Germany’s Siemens with Spain’s FCC and local contractors Freysinnet Contracting and Almabani.

The third bid is led by Hitachi Rail of Japan, supported by India’s Larsen & Toubro alongside local partner Albawani and Turkish infrastructure majors Kalyon and Cengiz. A fourth consortium comprises China’s CRRC working with Turkish firms Mapa, Limak and Cengiz, underlining the intense international interest in the project.

• Alstom (France) - WeBuild (Italy) - Nesma (local) Joint Venture
• Siemens (Germany) - FCC (Spain) - Freysinnet Contracting (local) - Almabani (local) Joint Venture
• Hitachi Rail (Japan) - L&T (India) / Albawani (local) - Kalyon (Turkiye) / Cengiz (Turkiye) Joint Venture
• CRRC (China) - Mapa (Turkiye) - Limak (Turkiye) Joint Venture

Design and engineering capabilities also form a critical part of the bids. Spanish consulting firms Typsa and Ayesa, along with US-based Aecom, are providing design consultancy to the Alstom-led team. The Siemens consortium is supported by Spain-headquartered Idom and South Korea’s Dowha, while the Hitachi Rail-led group has engaged Spanish engineering firm Sener and US-based Jacobs as its design consultants.

Mrs. Mamta Shah, MD & CEO of Urban Infra Group, said the level of competition highlights Riyadh Metro Line 7’s global significance. “The diversity and depth of bidders for Line 7 reflect how strategically important this project is, not just for Riyadh but for the global metro rail industry. Such projects set new benchmarks in scale, integration and technology, influencing how future megacity transit systems are designed and delivered,” she said.

Strategic Importance for Vision 2030

Riyadh Metro Line 7 is closely aligned with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 objectives, which emphasise sustainable infrastructure, improved quality of life and reduced urban congestion. The corridor is expected to support transit-oriented development, enhance access to employment hubs and significantly cut travel times across the city.

Dr. Vinod Shah, Director General of the Indian Chamber of Railway Industries, noted that the project also has wider implications for the global rail supply chain. “Large-scale metro projects like Riyadh Line 7 are increasingly being delivered through multinational consortia, combining technology, construction and local execution. Participation of companies from Europe, Asia and the Middle East demonstrates the globalisation of urban rail and opens opportunities for cross-border technology transfer and industrial collaboration,” he said.

Key details

Four major international consortia have reportedly entered the race, bringing together global rail OEMs, EPC heavyweights, and leading design houses:

????????????????????????-???????????? ????????????????????????????????????????
Contractors: Alstom, Webuild, Nesma
Design Consultants: Typsa, Ayesa, AECOM

????????????????????????????-???????????? ????????????????????????????????????????
Contractors: Siemens, FCC, Freyssinet, Almabani
Design Consultants: Idom (Spain), Dohwa (Korea)

???????????????????????????? ????????????????-???????????? ????????????????????????????????????????
Contractors: Hitachi Rail, Larsen & Toubro (L&T), Kalyon, Cengiz, Albawani
Design Consultants: Sener, Jacobs

????????????????-???????????? ????????????????????????????????????????
Contractors: CRRC, Mapa, Limak

With bids now submitted, the project will move into the evaluation phase, after which a preferred consortium is expected to be selected. As Riyadh continues to invest heavily in mass transit, Metro Line 7 is set to become a cornerstone of the city’s future mobility framework, reinforcing its ambition to emerge as one of the world’s most connected and sustainable metropolitan capitals.