Saturday, January 17, 2026
Saudi Arabia Relaunches Jeddah Metro Plans, Starting With The Blue Line
Saudi Arabia has restarted plans to develop the long-delayed Jeddah Metro project by issuing a preliminary design consultancy tender for the Blue Line, according to MEED.
The tender was released in early January, and consultancy firms have until March to submit their proposals. This step shows a renewed effort to move forward with public transport development in Jeddah after several years of project review and delay.
The Blue Line will be around 35 kilometers long. It will connect King Abdulaziz International Airport with the Haramain High-Speed Railway station, improving links between the airport, rail services, and major urban areas. See Also: Procedure to issue a final exit proof report via Absher
The goal of the line is to improve transit connectivity throughout the city, and it is intended to include 15 stations. Jeddah Development Authority is the project's client.
Plans for the Jeddah Metro were first announced in the early 2010s and later became part of a wider public transport program between 2013 and 2014. Development moved forward in 2014, when French engineering firm Systra was appointed to carry out preliminary engineering work.
In the same year, US-based company Aecom won a SR276 million contract to provide pre-program management consultancy services. This contract supported early planning and design work across several parts of the metro program. In 2015, UK architectural firm Foster + Partners was chosen to design the metro stations.
After 2015, when government expenditure priorities shifted due to the decline in global oil prices, progress stopped. A long pause in development followed because of reviews of the project's scope, budget, and delivery method.
Early concept plans included a multi-line metro network integrated with bus services and wider urban mobility improvements. According to the Jeddah Transport Company, the full metro system consists of four lines covering more than 161 kilometers, with 81 stations and 197 trains. Recommend: Saudi Arabia discovers mummified cheetahs in its caves dating back 1800 years
In addition to the Blue Line, the network includes:
➤ The Orange Line, running along Al-Madinah Road and Old Makkah Road.
➤ The Green Line, serving Jeddah’s city center.
➤ The Red Line, connecting King Abdullah Stadium to Old Makkah Street through major main roads.
The launch of the Blue Line tender is the first clear step toward restarting the wider Jeddah Metro project. The move supports Saudi Arabia’s goal of improving sustainable transportation and enhancing mobility in the Kingdom’s second-largest city. Trending: Jawazat reveals fine for not leaving on final exit visa after its expiry
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| Saudi Arabia Relaunches Jeddah Metro Plans, Starting With Blue Line |
