Middle East & Africa News

Latest news and developments from Middle East and Africa region

• 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.

• Design and construction tender launched for Nairobi BRT, Kenya

  December 5, 2019
  The Nairobi Metropolitan Transport Authority has invited bids to design and construct a bus rapid transit (BRT) system in Nairobi.

• 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.