THE Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC), in cooperation with the National Centre for Privatisation and PPP (NCP) and Qiddiya Investment Company (QIC), has announced the launch of the expression of interest (EOI) phase for the first stage of the Qiddiya high-speed rail project in Saudi Arabia. Developed under a public-private partnership (PPP) model, the new 250km/h line will connect King Salman International Airport, the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) and Qiddiya City. Qiddiya City is a planned new city and entertainment district that is expected to house 500,000 people. According to officials, the rail project is part of RCRC’s wider strategy to work with private-sector partners to develop major infrastructure projects. For detailed data on rail projects in the Middle East, subscribe to IRJ Pro.