Middle East & Africa News

Latest news and developments from Middle East and Africa region

• Ghana signs concession agreement for feasibility study of Accra SkyTrain

  November 28, 2019
  The Government of Ghana has signed a concession agreement with Africa Investment SkyTrain Consortium Holdings and Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund to develop the Accra SkyTrain. Feasibility studies will be conducted over a period of nine months to determine the financial viability of the project.

• Operations commence on Doha Metro Gold Line, Qatar

  November 22, 2019
  Operations have commenced on Doha Metro Gold Line. The line spans 14 km, covering 11 stations, namely Ras BU Abboud, National Museum, Souq Waqif, Musheireb, Bin Mahmoud, Al Sadd, Sudan, Jawaan, Al Waab, Sports City, and Aziziyah.

• First electric bus route launched in Egypt

  November 12, 2019
  Egypt’s Arab Organisation for Industrialisation, in collaboration with China-based Wanxiang Group Corporation and Egypt-based Mwasalat Misr, has commenced operations on the first electric bus route in Egypt.

• BPTC to operate buses on six new routes, Bahrain

  November 7, 2019
  The Bahrain Public Transport Company (BPTC) has announced plans to operate buses on six new routes.

• Mwasalat deploys ITS Phase I on its buses, Oman

  November 6, 2019
  Mwasalat, the public transport company in Muscat, has rolled out Phase I of the intelligent transport system (ITS) on all its buses.

• VHO and KAUST to boost technology and transportation sectors in Saudi Arabia

  November 4, 2019
  Virgin Hyperloop One (VHO) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) to exchange scientific and technological knowledge to further support the development of the technology and transportation sectors in Saudi Arabia.

• Operations commence on new route on Harambee BRT, South Africa

  October 24, 2019
  Operations have commenced on a new bus route on the Harambee bus rapid transit (BRT) in Ekurhuleni.

• Funds allocated for Nairobi BRT, Kenya

  October 23, 2019
  The European Union (EU), the European Investment Bank (EIB), and Agence Française de Développement (AFD) have together committed to provide funding of KES23 billion for the development of the Nairobi Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project.

• ALSA to operate buses in Casablanca, Morocco

  October 17, 2019
  ALSA, a subsidiary of UK-based National Express Group, has secured a contract to operate buses in Casablanca for up to 15 years. The contract is effective from November 2019.

• Kenya SGR Phase 2A opens

  October 17, 2019
  Passenger services have commenced on Kenya's Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) Phase 2A, a commuter rail line.

• Abu Dhabi minibus fleet expanded, UAE

  October 13, 2019
  A fleet of 40 minibuses equipped with Euro-6 emission standard engines has been deployed in Abu Dhabi.

• Cisco to supply technology for detecting fare evasion on buses in Dubai, UAE

  October 11, 2019
  US-based Cisco has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) to supply technology to detect fare evasion on buses in Dubai.

• Mauritius LRT Phase 1 opens

  October 4, 2019
  India-based Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has announced the inauguration of Phase 1 of the Metro Express, the light rail transit (LRT) system of Mauritius.

• KEXIM grants loan for Addis Ababa BRT, Ethiopia

  September 26, 2019
  The Export-Import Bank of Korea (Exim Bank) has signed a USD63 million loan agreement with Ethiopia for the construction of a 11.05-km long bus rapid transit (BRT) corridor in Addis Ababa, connecting Torhailoch Square with Addis Ababa Bole Airport.

• MoU signed for Cairo Metro Line 4 Phase 1 systems and signalling package, Egypt

  September 24, 2019
  Egypt’s National Authority for Tunnels (NAT) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the coalition of Japan-based Mitsubishi Corporation and Egypt-based Orascom Construction for the supply of systems and signalling equipment for Cairo Metro’s Line 4 Phase 1.

• Cairo Metro's Zamalek station to open by November 2021, Egypt

  September 24, 2019
  Egypt’s Deputy Minister of Transport has announced that the Zamalek metro station being constructed on the Cairo Metro Line 3 Section Ataba-Kit Kat is scheduled to open by November 2021.

• RTA and Mastercard to study open-loop fare payment in Dubai, UAE

  September 23, 2019
  Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and US-based Mastercard have entered into a partnership to carry out a study for the deployment of open-loop ticketing system on public transport in Dubai as a part of its smart city vision.

• Tunis launches mobile app for public transport; receives 30 buses, Tunisia

  September 13, 2019
  Transtu, the public transport operator in Tunis, has launched a mobile application (app), Wassalni, that provides information about waiting times, real-time schedule, the expected duration of the journey, and the expected fare price to its users.

• Two stops opened on 115 bus route in Sharjah, UAE

  September 11, 2019
  Sharjah’s Roads and Transport Authority (SRTA) has opened two bus stops on the route of intercity bus no. 115 for the convenience of passengers travelling to Umm Al Quwain and Ras Al Khaimah.

• BYD delivers 10 electric buses in Jerusalem, Israel

  September 11, 2019
  China-based BYD has delivered a fleet of 10 fully electric buses to Egged, a transportation operator in Israel, for deployment on bus route no. 15 in Jerusalem.