KSA’s Planned USD 540 Mil Electric Tramway Would Be World’s Longest

French train and tram company Alstom has won a contract worth USD 540 million to construct and maintain the world’s longest battery-powered tramway in Saudi Arabia. Once plans are complete, 20 cable-free electric trams will carry passengers across 17 new stations spread across a 22.4 km network.

The contract was awarded by the Royal Commission for Al-Ula (RCU) as part of its mission to preserve and develop the now world-famous historical site that is quickly becoming a hub for Saudi Arabia’s international cultural project.

The tramway will connect five of the area’s major historical districts; the UNESCO World Heritage sites of AlUla Old Town, Dada, Jabal Ikmah, Nabataean Horizon and Hegra Historical City. The climate-adapted trams will provide a modern transit option that follows Saudi Arabia’s focus on environmental stewardship.

Alstom has a 70-year history of infrastructure projects in the Kingdom, having also recently supplied 69 trains for the Riyadh Metro’s lines 3, 4, 5 and 6. These advancements in public transportation are essential pieces in Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 plan, as they push for increased domestic and international tourism. Having only fully opened to international tourism recently, the Kingdom attracted over 25 million foreign visitors in 2023.