Contract Signed to Design AlUla Train

The train will be powered through sustainable energy and link several districts, neighborhoods, heritage and tourist sites. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The train will be powered through sustainable energy and link several districts, neighborhoods, heritage and tourist sites. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Contract Signed to Design AlUla Train

The train will be powered through sustainable energy and link several districts, neighborhoods, heritage and tourist sites. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The train will be powered through sustainable energy and link several districts, neighborhoods, heritage and tourist sites. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Royal Commission for AlUla signed on Saturday a contract with SYSTRA Group, a pioneer in the business, to design the AlUla train.

The move helps boost the comprehensive development plan for the Saudi province and ties it directly with several stations and routes, including historic and heritage landmarks.

The announcement is in line with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s innovation and development drive for the next two decades in Saudi Arabia that is based on several main pillars, including environmental sustainability and economies of the futures, that are embodied in Vision 2030.

The AlUla train is part of the main projects of the Journey Through Time plan and main pillar of the development program of the province that aims to transform it into a global hub for arts, heritage, culture and nature, in line with Vision 2030.

Through Saturday’s signing, the Royal Commission for AlUla seeks to boost sustainability in transportation and easing congestion and noise on the roads.

The train will be powered through sustainable energy and link several districts, neighborhoods, heritage and tourist sites. It will offer a touristic experience that celebrates the beauty of the natural environment.

The AlUla train extends 50 kilometers and begins from the international airport in the South and ends at al-Hajar city in the North. The design of its carriages will be inspired by the historic and natural heritage of AlUla as part of efforts to achieve the vision for AlUla to transform it into a global tourist hub and the world’s largest living museum.

Engineer Moataz Kurdi, Chief County Operations Officer at the Commission, said the train is a significant step in achieving sustainable comprehensive development in the province.

Providing modern forms of public transform is one of the main pillars of the Commission’s plans to transform AlUla into a sustainable global living and tourism destination.

The routes of the train will be part of a complete network of public transport that will have a low impact on the environment and will be easy to access and use for everyone across the province, he added.

“We aspire to create a tourism and service experience amid AlUla’s unique natural environment,” he said.

The first phase of the design is set to be complete in 2023.

The train project will be divided into several routes. The first will connect the northern “red” line will connect the most significant tourist regions and archaeological locations. It will allow for easy transportation between different main stops of the Journey Through Time.

The second line will extend from the southern parts of the province. A third, spanning 33 kilometers, will stretch all the way to the international airport, to consolidate AlUla’s position as a transportation hub.

The AlUla train will be easily accessible by pedestrians and various forms of transportation.

The Royal Commission for AlUla aims to improve the quality of services offered to the residents and visitors of AlUla through the sustainable transportation system. In January, it launched the self-driving electric vehicle service in the Old Town, marking a preliminary example of future sustainable transportation aspired in the province.



Saudi Arabia Reaffirms Support for Afghanistan’s Security and Stability

Ambassador Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Wasil, Saudi Arabia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (SPA)
Ambassador Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Wasil, Saudi Arabia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Reaffirms Support for Afghanistan’s Security and Stability

Ambassador Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Wasil, Saudi Arabia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (SPA)
Ambassador Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Wasil, Saudi Arabia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (SPA)

Saudi Arabia reaffirmed its unwavering support for Afghanistan’s security and stability on Tuesday, calling for respect for the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, while voicing deep concern over the humanitarian and economic challenges facing the Afghan people.

In an address before the UN General Assembly during a session on the situation in Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Wasil, urged the international community to intensify efforts to deliver urgent humanitarian aid, alleviate suffering, and safeguard the rights of women and girls.

“The Kingdom stresses the importance of empowering Afghan women and enhancing their rights to education, work and participation in public life,” Al-Wasil told the gathering, citing the outcomes of the recent “Conference on the Status of Women in Islam,” hosted in Jeddah.

He also highlighted the humanitarian support extended by Saudi Arabia through the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center, underscoring the Kingdom’s commitment to addressing Afghanistan’s ongoing crises.

Al-Wasil warned against allowing Afghan territory to become a safe haven for terrorism or a hub for narcotics trafficking, which he said would pose a serious threat to regional and global security.

The Saudi envoy reaffirmed Riyadh’s commitment to supporting political, humanitarian and development initiatives aimed at achieving lasting stability in Afghanistan.