Riyadh Development Authority has generated SR1.04bn ($278.7m) for the 10-year naming rights of eight Riyadh Metro stations.

The commercial organisations and stations named after them are:

Construction works on the metro are expected to be completed in late 2019.

The metro network will be 176.5km long, inclusive of 7.8km of 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.

In September, Riyadh Development Authority awarded Capital Metro Company (Camco), the joint venture of France’s RATP Dev and local firm Saudi Public Transport Company (Saptco), the contract to operate and maintain lines 1 and 2 of the Riyadh Metro.

The contract, valued at SR8.5bn, is for 12 years, inclusive of the mobilisation phase.

Line 1, otherwise known as the Blue line, stretches 39km between Al-Olaya and Al-Batha corridor and has 25 stations.

Line 2, the Red line, runs for 25km along King Abdullah Road and serves 15 stations.

The client also appointed the Flow Consortium, which comprises Frances Alstom, and Italy’s Ansaldo STS and Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane, for the 12-year operation and maintenance contract for lines 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the Riyadh Metro.

The 12-year contract, which similarly covers the mobilisation stage, was valued at SR10.9bn.

MEED understands Saudi Arabia’s Transport Ministry recently issued a tender related to a transit-oriented development (TOD) project for the Riyadh Metro.

TODs comprise commercial, residential and retail spaces in proximity to transport hubs, and are designed to increase public transport usage.

The Riyadh Development Authority was formerly Arriyadh Development Authority.