The transport ministries of Bahrain and Saudi Arabia have received an interest from about 100 firms to participate in the second causeway project that will link Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.

Companies that have expressed an interest in the Hamad Causeway scheme include multinational, regional and local contractors, consultants, investors, finance, legal and other public-private partnership (PPP) experts most of who attended the market consultation event held in Manama in early June.

It is understood that a transaction adviser will be appointed in early 2018 to support the clients in managing and classifying the interested firms into two tiers prior to the prequalification stage.

To be procured as public-private partnership (PPP), the King Hamad Causeway will feature a 25km road and rail causeway in the same alignment as the existing King Fahd causeway. The railway segment will extend inland by another 21km into Saudi Arabia and 24km into Bahrain.

The list of consultants and contractors confirmed by MEED and MEED Projects to have submitted an interest in the scheme on 29 June include: