Riyadh Launches EOI Qiddiya High-Speed Rail 250km/h King Salman Airport PPP

The Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC) has opened the Expression of Interest phase for the Qiddiya high-speed rail project, a revolutionary 250km/h connection linking King Salman International Airport to the future Qiddiya City in under 30 minutes.

Updated on September 23, 2025

The Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC), in cooperation with the National Centre for Privatisation and PPP (NCP) and Qiddiya Investment Company (QIC), has officially launched the Expression of Interest phase for the first stage of the Qiddiya high-speed rail project. Trains on this new line are designed to travel at up to 250km/h, marking a historic milestone in Saudi infrastructure development.

Core Project Announcement: October 12 Deadline

The project is being developed under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, with application submission deadline set for October 12, 2025. This initiative forms part of the national transport transformation strategy, positioning Riyadh as a major regional logistics hub.

Interested companies and investors have a limited window to register for this structural investment opportunity. The project represents one of the most ambitious high-speed rail developments in the Middle East.

Critical Timeline for Industry Stakeholders

Applications are open from September 22 to October 12, 2025, with the final date for receiving inquiries set for October 11. This accelerated procedure demonstrates the urgency Saudi authorities place on this nationally significant project.

Phase 1 Route: Strategic Connectivity and Journey Times

Phase 1 will connect three strategic points: King Salman International Airport (KSIA), King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD), and Qiddiya City in less than 30 minutes. This remarkable performance will radically transform regional mobility.

The optimized route will drastically reduce travel times across an extensive geographical area, creating an ultra-modern transport corridor between key destinations in the Saudi economic ecosystem.

Geography and Scale: Qiddiya City in Tuwaiq Mountains

Qiddiya City, located in the Tuwaiq mountains, sits approximately 70km from the airport and 45km from central Riyadh. This new entertainment metropolis is planned to house 500,000 people, constituting a major urban hub in Saudi Arabia's diversification strategy.

Integrating Qiddiya into the high-speed transport network will ensure optimal accessibility from the capital's main economic and logistics hubs.

Phase 2 Expansion: Toward Integrated Rail Network

The project's second phase plans to connect several major future urban developments, creating a comprehensive metropolitan-scale rail network.

Phase 2 Connectivity:

• The North Pole development (site of an expected 2000m-high skyscraper)
• The New Murabba development
• King Salman Park
• Central Riyadh
• Industrial City in south Riyadh

This extension will position Riyadh as a metropolis with world-class rail infrastructure, comparable to major international capitals.

Strategic Alignment with Saudi Vision 2030

The rail project directly supports Vision 2030 objectives, which focus on transforming the Kingdom into a global logistics hub by developing advanced transport infrastructure, enhancing efficiency and promoting private-sector investment.

This initiative illustrates RCRC's broader strategy of collaborating with private sector partners to develop major infrastructure. The PPP approach mobilizes technical expertise and private financing while maintaining strategic public control.