Riyadh Metro to begin full ops by end of 2019

Riyadh Metro is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2019, Alriyadh newspaper reported, citing Arriyadh Development Authority’s (ADA) Walid Al-Ekrish, Riyadh Metro project manager.

The authority on Sunday launched a program allowing local and foreign companies to bid for the right to name 10 stations in the metro network.

Revenues generated from the naming rights auction will go towards covering maintenance and operating costs, Al-Ekrish said.

Only companies with a solid financial position will be allowed to enter the auction, he added, noting that participating entities must have been established at least three years ago.

ADA plans to offer the names of 10 more stations if the first auction succeeds, said ADA’s program manager, Khalid Al-Hazzani. Naming rights for a maximum of 20 station names will be offered, with a minimum period of 10 years each.

The Riyadh Metro project will span 176 kilometers and include 85 stations. A bus network will complement the project with 24 routes, running 1,083 kilometers and stopping at 776 stations.

The project was 54 percent complete in May