JEDDAH — Saudi Arabia intends to tender several contracts for the Jeddah metro project in mid-2016 after the design completion, a local Arabic daily reported on Wednesday.



"The Jeddah metro project is still in the design planning stage. Once this stage is completed, we will tender several contracts in mid-2016," Osama bin Ibrahim Abdo, CEO of Jeddah Metro Company, was quoted as saying by the daily.



He said each main construction contract would include five to six consultancy contracts. The Jeddah metro project involves the construction of a 149-kilometre (km) network, including around 18km underground rail in the town center, Abdo said. He expected all construction work to be completed by 2020.



"I think there will be more budget allocations... a budget of $12 billion (SR45 billion) was approved in March 2013 but the project status has now changed as the general plan is being updated," he said.



In July 2014, France's Systra was awarded a $74 million consultancy contract for the engineering design.



On 31 March, local media reported that officials of Jeddah Metro Company signed an $80 million contract with British architectural design firm Foster + Partners for the metro design vision. — SG