Al-Ula Tram Project: Contractors Submit Revised Bids for Landmark Saudi Infrastructure

The Royal Commission for Al-Ula (RCU) is driving a 22.4 km battery-powered tramway that will link five UNESCO World Heritage sites via 17 architect-designed stations. Scheduled to open in 2027, the scheme shows Vision 2030 by fusing sustainable mobility with cultural preservation, and it offers sizeable construction opportunities for global and local specialists in rail systems, civil works and advanced project management.

Project Overview & Scope

• Route: 22.4 km from Al-Ula International Airport to Al-Ula Old Town, Dadan, Jabal Ikmah, Nabataean Horizon and Hegra.

• Stations: 17 unique structures serving heritage and tourism hubs.

• Rolling stock: 20 Citadis B battery trams, 100% catenary-free, supplied and maintained for 10 years by Alstom.

• Works package: depot, track, charging infrastructure, station buildings, technical facilities and landscape integration.

The rich landscape of Al-Ula with its ancient formations

Delivery Partners & Key Stakeholders

• Client: Royal Commission for Al-Ula (RCU).

• Systems & rolling stock: Alstom.

• Engineering consultant: Systra, with LABA, ARCHAIOS, ELARD, RGF and ARCOS Engineering.

• Project programme and construction management JV: Setec, Egis, Assystem

• Operator: RATP Dev (Al-Ula Mobility concept.

• Additional stakeholders: Saudi Ministry of Tourism, Public Investment Fund, local heritage authorities.

Construction Opportunities

• Earthworks, viaducts, and heritage-sensitive foundations.

• MEP and power supply for charging and climate control.

• Signalling, telecoms and platform-screen systems.

• Fit-out and wayfinding that celebrate Al-Ula's archaeological identity.

• Long-term maintenance, data analytics and training services.

Strategic Importance

The tramway channels SR15 billion of planned Al-Ula investment into low-impact access that will boost tourism, cut road traffic and anchor wider infrastructure development across north-west Saudi Arabia. It reinforces Vision 2030 targets for carbon-reduced transport, economic diversification and world-class visitor experiences through public-private partnerships.

Conceptual design of the modern Al-Ula tram system

Technical Highlights

• World's longest catenary-free tram, powered via Alstom's Mitrac B batteries and SRS ground charging.

• Digital-twin asset management for predictive maintenance and high availability.

• Station designs sympathetic to landscape archaeology, using low-carbon materials to support sustainable building goals.

Timeline & Milestones

• Mid-2025: revised bid submissions and contract award.

• Late 2025: full mobilisation and early works

• 2026-27: depot, track and station construction; systems integration.

• H2 2027: phased passenger service launch, followed by a 10-year O&M period.

Visual representation of the tram line connecting to historical sites

Community Engagement and Sustainable Tourism Promotion

The future of the Al-Ula tram project extends beyond mere infrastructure; it embodies the goal of fostering sustainable tourism. As the tram line connects significant historical landmarks, it provides a natural conduit for both local residents and visitors to explore the cultural richness of Al-Ula. This approach not only enhances the transportation infrastructure but elevates the entire tourism experience.

Community engagement is also a priority. Residents are encouraged to participate in discussions regarding the project, ensuring that their insights and needs are taken into account. By doing so, the tram project is positioned as a community-driven initiative rather than an isolated construction effort.

In conclusion, the Al-Ula tram project is set to become a landmark achievement in Saudi Arabia's infrastructure development narrative. As contractors submit revised bids that align with the innovative, sustainable vision of the project, the opportunity for a revitalized connection between history, culture, and modern technology unfolds.

This project exemplifies how infrastructure can tell a story, connect communities, and support a vision for a sustainable future, a narrative that resonates beyond Saudi Arabia's borders and sets a direction for similar initiatives across the globe.

Writer's Opinion

Al-Ula's tramway perfectly illustrates how Saudi Arabia is turning grand cultural ambitions into tangible, green mobility assets. By pairing battery technology with heritage-led architecture, RCU is raising the bar for rail projects across the Middle East.

Contractors that can marry engineering ingenuity with site-sensitive delivery stand to shape a project that will be cited globally as a benchmark for sustainable tourism transit. Watch this scheme closely: the expertise, data and supply-chain alliances forged here will echo through the Kingdom's next wave of giga-projects and inspire a generation of rail professionals committed to pioneering progress.