Saudi Arabia’s Arriyadh Development Authority (ADA) is finalising the process of shortlisting bidders for the contracts to operate and maintain (O&M) Riyadh Metro’s six lines.

MEED understands three firms have been shortlisted for the contracts and that the ADA is seeking final approval of the offers before awarding the contracts to the preferred bidders.

The list of shortlisted companies are expected to be announced in October.

Earlier, the ADA said it is likely to select two or three firms to operate and maintain Riyadh Metro’s six lines.

Firms that were understood to have been prequalified to bid for the tender include:

• RATP Dev (France)
• Keolis (France)
• Ansaldo / Hitachi (Italy / Japan)
• SMRT (Singapore)
• Serco (UK)
• Korail (South Korea)
• QDVC (Qatar)

ADA received the initial round of submissions for the contracts in December last year. A final round of submissions was conducted in May.

On 7 August, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz, acting Riyadh governor and vice-chairman of the Higher Committee for the implementation of the King Abdul Aziz Project for Public Transport in Riyadh, said the Riyadh Metro has reached a 57 per cent completion rate.

Three Riyadh Metro packages, collectively worth $23bn, were awarded to separate consortiums in 2013, with 2018 set as the target completion date for all lines at the time. A 12-month delay has been anticipated, with 2019 set as the new target completion date.

The completed metro network will be 176.5 kilometres long (7.8km as a common section for Line 4 and Line 6), with underground, elevated and at-grade sections. It will have a total of 85 stations and 25 park-and-ride locations.