Agreements signed for SAR 5.66B Wasel Al Haram Project in Makkah

Saudi Arabia’s Transport General Authority (TGA), the executive arm of the Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites, signed on Nov. 8 agreements for the Wasel Al Haram project, covering parking facilities, stations, and transport corridors in the central area and across Makkah, with a total value of SAR 5.664 billion, in partnership with the private sector.

The agreements were signed during the opening ceremony of the sixth Hajj Conference and Exhibition. They cover three investment packages: the first and third packages were awarded to an alliance comprising Saudi Alqaid Co., Moventis, and Waskita, while the second was awarded to Mawqif Alliance. The project will be fully financed by the private sector.

The project comprises 19 stations and parking facilities across seven corridors, covering a total area of 3.1 million square meters. Its operating system will include 3,200 buses, with the three packages expected to serve 205 million passengers annually, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

The project will rely on a service quality and operational efficiency measurement system comprising 46 key performance indicators covering bus operations, real estate operations, and smart systems.

The project is expected to contribute between SAR 11 billion and SAR 12 billion to GDP and create between 2,800 and 3,000 jobs in the local labor market over an investment period of seven to 10 years.

The project includes rehabilitating stations and equipping them with modern commercial facilities and integrated digital systems, operating shuttle buses, and establishing a specialized center to train national talent in transport, hospitality, retail, and logistics services.