Middle East & Africa News

Latest news and developments from Middle East and Africa region

• Government of Egypt announces plans to start electric bus production

  February 23, 2020
  Egypt’s Ministry of Military Production has contracted China-based Foton to manufacture electric buses in its military production factories, starting November 2020.

• Daimler to supply 500 buses in Casablanca, Morocco

  February 15, 2020
  Daimler has secured a contract to supply 500 buses to ECI Al Baida and ALSA in Casablanca, Morocco.

• Irizar to supply 200 buses in Casablanca, Morocco

  February 11, 2020
  Spain-based Irizar has secured a contract from CASV Transports, S.A. to supply 200 low-entry buses in Casablanca by end-2020.

• Egis and CID to conduct studies for Rabat–Sale Tramway extensions, Morocco

  February 5, 2020
  France-based Egis, in collaboration with Morocco-based consultancy firm CID, has secured a contract to conduct preliminary and pre-project studies to develop 30-km-long extensions of the Rabat–Salé Tramway. The duration of the contract is 12 months.

• Kampala public bus service Phase I to be launched by September 2020, Uganda

  February 2, 2020
  The Kampala Capital City Authority has announced plans to launch the Phase I of the public bus service in the greater Kampala region in September 2020. The public bus service will serve the districts of Entebbe, Wakiso, and Mukono.

• Qatar to deploy self-driving electric shuttles

  January 31, 2020
  The Qatar Investment Authority has announced a plan to deploy a fleet of self-driving electric shuttles, supplied by Volkswagen AG.

• PART announces Kuwait Metro project details

  January 31, 2020
  Kuwait’s Public Authority for Roads and Transport (PART) has announced details of three lines metro system in Kuwait.

• Citybus plans to deploy real-time passenger information, Kuwait

  January 22, 2020
  Citybus has announced plans to upgrade the technology deployed across its bus fleet.

• XRail secures signalling maintenance contract for Haramain HSR, Saudi Arabia

  January 22, 2020
  XRail Group has been subcontracted by Siemens to deliver corrective and preventive maintenance services for the signalling systems and technical buildings of the Haramain high-speed railway, over a period of seven years.

• Kuwait Metro development plans announced

  January 17, 2020
  Kuwait’s Public Authority for Roads and Transport (PART) has announced plans to start construction on the Kuwait Metropolitan Rapid Transit (KMRT) system .

• Alsa City Bus to deploy 700 new buses in Casablanca, Morocco

  January 14, 2020
  Alsa City Bus has announced plans to deploy 700 new buses in Casablanca, starting January 2021.

• Oshodi–Abule Egba BRT corridor to be completed by May 2020, Nigeria

  January 13, 2020
  The Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) has announced that Phase I of the Oshodi–Abule Egba BRT corridor is expected to be completed by May 2020.

• IFC to extend USD100 million loan for Casablanca Tramway extension, Morocco

  January 13, 2020
  The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a subsidiary of the World Bank, has announced plans to extend a load of USD100 million to finance the construction of Casablanca Tramway Lines 3 and 4.

• PMT launches 50 brand new buses, Nigeria

  January 10, 2020
  Peace Mass Transit (PMT) Limited, the mini-bus transport company in Nigeria, has added 50 new buses to its existing fleet.

• Nairobi commuter rail network to be upgraded, Kenya

  January 6, 2020
  The Government of Kenya has approved USD2.5 billion for the upgradation of the Nairobi Commuter Rail network. Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC) is expected to invite bids for the upgradation of railway tracks in January 2020. Further, rolling stock will also be imported from Spain.

• Riyadh bus project to commence operations in Q2-2020

  January 1, 2020
  he Public Transport Company (PTC) in Saudi Arabia has announced that the King Abdulaziz Bus Public Transport Network will commence operations in Q2-2020. Saudi Public Transport Company (SAPTCO) has an 80 per cent stake in PTC.

• Star JV secures contract for Abidjan Metro, Côte d'Ivoire

  December 26, 2019
  The Abidjan Rail Transport Company (Star) joint venture (JV) has secured a USD1.36 billion contract for Abidjan Metro.

• EBRD loan to fund Tunis train procurement, Tunisia

  December 18, 2019
  Tunis Transport Company (TRANSTU) has signed a EUR45 million loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to procure 18 new light rail vehicles (LRVs), which will replace the existing rolling stock on the Tunis–Goulette–Marsa light rail transit (LRT) line, connecting Tunis’s city centre with La Marsa.

• Autonomous shuttle trials to commence in Thuwal, Saudi Arabia

  December 12, 2019
  Saudi Public Transport Company (SAPTCO) has collaborated with the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Local Motors, and EasyMile to start the trials of two driverless shuttles, named Olli and EZ10.

• Trial operations commence on Doha Metro’s Green Line, Qatar

  December 10, 2019
  Trial operations have commenced on the Green Line of Doha Metro. The line spans 22 km, connects Al Riffa to Al Mansoura, and covers 11 stations.