The other members of the consortium are Ansaldo STS and AnsaldoBreda, both of which are part of Italy’s Finmeccanica Group.

The three-year deal involves building an 11-kilometre-long monorail elevated 10 metres above the ground, and supplying the trains.

Saudi Binladin will carry out the general construction work, Ansaldo STS will install the electro-mechanical systems, and Ansaldo-Breda will supply the trains.

The deal involves building an 11-kilometre-long monorail elevated 10 metres above the ground

The other three bidding groups for the contract were Al-Arrab Contracting Company, Saudi Oger and El-Seif Engineering & Contracting, all local.

Beirut-based Dar al-Handasah (Shair & Partners) is the consultant on the university project, which is one of the largest construction schemes tendered in the kingdom this year.

In mid-January, the Finance Ministry awarded three contracts worth more than SR30bn for the construction of the university campus. Saudi Oger won the first package, worth SR12.5bn, and Saudi Binladin picked up the second, worth SR10bn.

Both contracts involve building low-rise teaching blocks and residential buildings.

Dubai-based Arabtec Construction is working on Saudi Bin-ladin’s part of the project.

El-Seif won the third contract, which was worth SR8bn, to build general infrastructure works.