The Riyadh Metro is progressing on schedule as work on the biggest public infrastructure project in Saudi Arabia’s capital reaches 26 per cent completion, with almost 75 per cent of the major stations also finished.

The most difficult stages of the $23bn infrastructure project have already been completed and it will be finished in the time allocated, Arab News quoted Riyadh Governor, Prince Faisal bin Bander, as saying during a fact-finding mission.

There are 31,000 workers involved in the construction project, including 7,000 engineers and administrators. This number can be increased during the next phases if required.

Currently, construction is being carried out on the principle track and 85 branch stations. These include the Qaser al-Hakum station in the King Abdullah Financial Centre, the western station, and the Fifth Hall station at King Khaled International airport. Work is also under way on the construction of the operations and control centre, overnight shelters, maintenance facilities for every line, transfer services and electrical generation stations.

Saudi Arabia, the largest oil exporter in Opec’s basket, has suffered a slowdown in its economy on the back of sliding oil prices. The kingdom, which is the biggest contracting market in the region, potentially offers the most opportunities next year, although progress is expected to slow as the kingdom cuts back on spending programmes to compensate for the falling oil revenues.

Some aspects of the Riyadh Metro have already been scaled back, and in October the Finance Ministry instructed government agencies not to award any more contracts this year.