Saudi Arabia’s ports are some of the biggest in the region, and the Kingdom’s combined throughput of 194m tonnes per year (excluding crude oil) is the largest volume in the Middle East. However, with the international trend in shipping moving towards consolidation at ever larger ports (and with ever larger container ships), the government has announced plans to invest $30bn in upgrading facilities to enable the Kingdom’s ports to compete on the global stage. As one of the world’s largest exporters of primary products, the Kingdom has an extensive network of ports on its Red Sea and Gulf coasts. However, with the exception of Jeddah

With work rapidly advancing on Riyadh’s flagship integrated transport network, local authorities have recently been deciding which ticketing system to implement for the project. The decision is an important one: with SR82.5bn ($22bn) being invested in the metro system alone, an effective ticketing system will be key to attracting sufficient passengers – and revenue – to make the service sustainable. A total of 10 international companies bid for the contract to implement and operate the new network’s ticketing system, and in January 2015, the Arriyadh

Saudi residents have long enjoyed cheap and abundant supplies of fuel, making car ownership the preferred choice for transport. Yet with the number of new cars on the road expected to reach 1m per year by 2020, and a population increasingly concentrated in the Kingdom’s main urban centres, municipal authorities are beginning to look to mass transit alternatives. Indeed, five Saudi cities are currently either building or planning major integrated transport systems, with total investment (based on current reports) expected to reach SR250bn ($66.63bn) through to 2025. Of the $190bn of transport infrastructure spending currently forecast in the Kingdom, OBG estimates over a third (35.3%)

Since the global slowdown of 2008, the Saudi authorities have committed huge sums in infrastructure spending to spur demand in the economy. The government’s strategy has focused on improving transport infrastructure, with unprecedented levels of investment in rail, aviation and port facilities. With oil prices falling, the government is once more stepping in with spending to boost the economy, and a fresh round of investment in transport is in the offing. A Slew of Projects According to government sources, the transport sector is currently the target of some $141bn of investment in rail and public transport alone, with an estimated $90bn of spending forecast on