Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Sunday, Jun 01, 2025

RCU, SYSTRA ink AlUla Tram design deal

RCU, SYSTRA ink AlUla Tram design deal

The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) has signed a tram design agreement with the French transport giant SYSTRA to advance the AlUla tram project, which will connect the governorate to a number of stations, tracks, routes, landmarks and historical heritage sites.
SYSTRA is one of the world’s leading engineering and consulting groups specialized in public transport and mobility solutions.

The 50-km tram, which will run from AlUla International Airport in the south to Hegra city in the north, is a key project in AlUla’s “The Journey Through Time” master plan. It is also a main pillar of AlUla’s development program, which aims to turn AlUla into a global spot for travellers offering heritage, nature, art and culture, in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030. This is a landmark initiative in realizing the ambitious vision of transforming AlUla governorate into a global tourist destination and the largest living museum in the world.

Through the tram project, the RCU aims to enhance the sustainability of mobility and reduce crowd and noise. The project will work to effectively employ sustainable electric energy, and will link centers, neighborhoods, heritage and tourist sites, with providing a unique tourist experience that celebrates the beauty of the natural environment.

Amr Al-Madani, CEO of RCU, said that AlUla has proven that it is at the center of everyone’s attention, and planning in AlUla affects financial, environmental, and energy sustainability as well. “Thus, the tram will be part of the solution, not only because it will rely on electric power but also because it will reduce the need to use vehicles that are used to reach sites in the desert, which do not provide a pleasant transportation experience and are environmentally harmful,” he added.

According to RCU, the design of the project’s initial phase is expected to be completed in 2023. The tram will serve several routes.

Tram carts feature designs inspired by the natural and historical heritage of AlUla, securing the governorate’s vision of transforming the city into the largest living museum in the world and a global tourism destination.

The tram project has been divided into a number of tracks, as the northern “red” track connects the most prominent tourist areas and archaeological sites, and allows easy movement between various main sites specified in the “Journey Through Time” master plan. As for the second phase, it will extend to the south of AlUla governorate, with an additional 33 km long route that reaches the international airport, in an effort to consolidate AlUla’s position as a prominent transport hub.

The Al-Ula tram track has been set in a way that supports pedestrian access, and provides shared bicycles and e-bikes, as well as electric vehicles.

The ambitious project of developing AlUla governorate and transform it into a destination of international heritage emanates from the vision of Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, who is also chairman of the Board of Directors of RCU. The announcement about the AlUla tram design agreement coincided with the Crown Prince’s unveiling of the national aspirations and priorities for the research, development and innovation sector in the Kingdom over the coming two decades.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
European and Arab Ministers Convene in Madrid to Address Gaza Conflict
U.S. Health Secretary Ends Select COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
Trump Warns Putin Is 'Playing with Fire' Amid Escalating Ukraine Conflict
India and Pakistan Engage Trump-Linked Lobbyists to Influence U.S. Policy
U.S. Halts New Student Visa Interviews Amid Enhanced Security Measures
Trump Administration Cancels $100 Million in Federal Contracts with Harvard
SpaceX Starship Test Flight Ends in Failure, Mars Mission Timeline Uncertain
King Charles Affirms Canadian Sovereignty Amid U.S. Statehood Pressure
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Founder Warns Against Trusting Regime in Nuclear Talks
UAE Offers Free ChatGPT Plus Subscriptions to Citizens
Lebanon Initiates Plan to Disarm Palestinian Factions
Iran and U.S. Make Limited Progress in Nuclear Talks
The Daily Debate: The Fall of the Dollar — Strategic Reset or Economic Self-Destruction?
Trump Administration's Tariff Policies and Dollar Strategy Spark Global Economic Debate
OpenAI Acquires Jony Ive’s Startup for $6.5 Billion to Build a Revolutionary “Third Core Device”
Turkey Weighs Citizens in Public as Erdoğan Launches National Slimming Campaign
Saudi-Spanish Business Forum Commences in Riyadh
Saudi Arabia and Spain Sign MoU to Boost SME Sectors
UK Suspends Trade Talks with Israel Amid Gaza Offensive
Iran and U.S. Set for Fifth Round of Nuclear Talks Amid Rising Tensions
Russia Expands Military Presence Near Finland Amid Rising Tensions
Indian Scholar Arrested in Crackdown Over Pakistan Conflict Commentary
Israel Eases Gaza Blockade Amid Internal Dispute Over Military Strategy
President Biden’s announcement of advanced prostate cancer sparked public sympathy—but behind closed doors, Democrats are in panic
A Chinese company made solar tiles that look way nicer than regular panels!
Indian jet shootdown: the all-robot legion behind China’s PL-15E missiles
The Chinese Dragon: The True Winner in the India-Pakistan Clash
Australia's Venomous Creatures Contribute to Life-Saving Antivenom Programme
The Spanish Were Right: Long Working Hours Harm Brain Function
Did Former FBI Director Call for Violence Against Trump? Instagram Post Sparks Uproar
US and UAE Partner to Develop Massive AI Data Center Complex
Apple's $95 Million Siri Settlement: Eligible Users Have Until July 2 to File Claims
US and UAE Reach Preliminary Agreement on Nvidia AI Chip Imports
President Trump and Elon Musk Welcomed by Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim with Cybertruck Convoy
Strong Warning Issued: Do Not Use General Chatbots for Medical, Legal, or Educational Guidance
Saudi Arabia Emerges as Global Tech Magnet with U.S. Backing and Trump’s Visit
This was President's departure from Saudi Arabia. The Crown Prince personally escorted him back to the airport.
NVIDIA and Saudi Arabia Launch Strategic Partnership to Establish AI Centers
Trump Meets Syrian President Ahmad al-Shara in Historic Encounter
Trump takes a blow torch to the neocons and interventionists while speaking to the Saudis
US and Saudi Arabia Sign Landmark Agreements Across Multiple Sectors
Why Saudi Arabia Rolled Out a Purple Carpet for Donald Trump Instead of Red
Elon Musk Joins Trump Meeting in Saudi Arabia
Trump says it would be 'stupid' not to accept gift of Qatari plane
Quantum Computing Threatens Bitcoin Security
Michael Jordan to Serve as Analyst for NBA Games
×