Middle East & Africa News

Latest news and developments from Middle East and Africa region

• CCECC completes excavation work on Etihad Rail project tunnel, UAE

  July 22, 2021
  China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) has completed excavation work on the Middle East’s longest tunnel, spanning 1.8 km, which is being built as part of the Etihad Rail project.

• GABS introduces electric buses into its fleet in Cape Town, South Africa

  July 15, 2021
  Golden Arrow Bus Services (GABS) has deployed two electric buses in Cape Town. The new buses were developed in a partnership between BYD and uYilo.

• Hyundai Rotem to supply Tanzania’s first electric trains

  July 6, 2021
  The Tanzania Railway Corporation has awarded Hyundai Rotem a USD296 million contract to supply 80 electric multiple units (EMUs) and 17 electric locomotives.

• ABB to supply high-power charging infrastructure for Qatar’s electric bus infrastructure project

  July 1, 2021
  ABB has secured a contract to design, supply, test, and commission new high-power charging infrastructure for Qatar’s largest electric bus infrastructure project.

• Egypt’s Ministry of Transport to extend rail lines from Aswan to Abou Simbel and Toshki

  June 28, 2021
  Egypt’s Ministry of Transport has announced plans to introduce a rail line extending from Aswan to Abou Simbel district in the south and to Toshki district in the Western Desert. Studies are currently underway to determine the exact details of the project.

• Government of Huambo to procure buses, Angola

  June 21, 2021
  The governorate of the province of Huambo has announced the launch of a tender for the procurement of a fleet of 10 new buses.

• NTA conducts first test run of Tel Aviv light rail, Israel

  June 11, 2021
  The NTA Metropolitan Mass Transit System has conducted the first trial run of light rail in Tel Aviv. Under the trial, test runs were conducted on an electric train, which was operated eastwards from the Red Line Shacham station. T

• Government of Egypt to convert over 2,200 gasoline buses to natural gas

  June 9, 2021
  The Government of Egypt has launched the Autogas programme under which it aims to convert over 2,262 gasoline buses to natural gas.

• Egypt’s Transport Ministry awards contract to operate Cairo subway Line 3; receives 22 passenger coaches [free access]

  June 7, 2021
  Egypt’s Transport Ministry has announced that a French company has secured a contract to operate Line 3 of the Cairo metro and the electric light rail (LRT) system for a period of 15 years. The name of the company is yet to be announced.

• Kavim partners with Moovit to launch Israel’s first rural ridesharing bus service

  June 3, 2021
  Israel’s Ministry of Transport and the Kavim bus company have partnered with Moovit to launch a flexible public transport service called Quicker.

• Construction on BRT lanes begins on Cairo’s Ring Road, Egypt

  May 31, 2021
  Egypt’s Ministry of Transport has announced the commencement of construction of bus rapid transit (BRT) lanes on Cairo’s Ring Road.

• Dubai RTA to launch five new bus routes, UAE

  May 23, 2021
  Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced plans to launch five new bus routes in Dubai on June 1, 2021.

• Government of Uganda to borrow funds for Kampala–Malaba railway line refurbishment

  May 19, 2021
  The Government of Uganda has announced plans to borrow a total of EUR325 million to facilitate the refurbishment of the Kampala–Malaba Metre Gauge Railway Project.

• Egypt's Transport Ministry evaluates offers from four rolling stock manufacturers

  May 17, 2021
  Egypt’s Transport Ministry is evaluating offers from four international companies to launch a new production line for the manufacture of metro and railway cars at the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone).

• Cairo Metro Line 6 MoU underway; contract signed for railcars, Egypt

  May 13, 2021
  The government of Egypt through the Ministry of Transport is currently working on a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Bechtel Corporation for the construction of Cairo Metro Line 6.

• Feasibility studies to commence for BRT on Cairo’s Ring Road, Egypt

  May 10, 2021
  Egypt’s Land Transport Regulatory Authority has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the alliance of bus rapid transit (BRT) system operators on Cairo’s ring road to conduct technical and economic feasibility studies on BRT buses.

• Optibus to partner with Hitachi Europe to help transition to ZEBs

  April 30, 2021
  Isreal-based Optibus has announced plans to partner with Hitachi Europe to help municipalities and public transport providers decarbonise their bus fleets and to reduce carbon emissions.

• Dubai RTA collaborates with Visa to deploy bank cards, UAE

  April 29, 2021
  Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Visa to deploy bank cards on its network.

• M3 line on Tel Aviv Metropolitan Metro System sent for cabinet approval, Israel

  April 26, 2021
  Israel’s National Infrastructures Committee has announced plans to send the plans for the M3 line on the Tel Aviv Metropolitan Metro System for approval by the cabinet. The plans have been drawn up by the NTA Metropolitan Mass Transit System.

• Cfir appointed as Jerusalem Light Rail operator; AVLS and DMS contract awarded to GMV, Israel

  April 22, 2021
  Cfir consortium comprising Spain-based CAF and Israel-based Saphir has replaced CityPass for operations of Jerusalem Light Rail (Red Line). CityPass operated the light rail line for a period of 10 years.