The Mecca metro project has reached another procurement milestone as Saudi Arabia prepares for a new design submission deadline. The Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites (RCMC) has set October 14, 2026 for bids covering initial design studies. The scope includes reviewing existing studies, preparing concept designs, studying land acquisition, and planning future-phase integration. This follows the original August 5 submission deadline issued when RCMC launched the tender in May.
The latest move keeps the $16.5 billion metro program in its design and procurement phase. Definitive construction works are still expected to remain at least 18 months away.
Mecca Metro Project advances toward revised design procurement
Current plans retain a four-line network covering 89 stations and three depots. Authorities intend to deliver the system through three phases between 2032 and 2045.
Phase One will prioritize Lines B and C across just over 62 kilometers. The phase will include 31 stations, including 21 underground stations.
The first phase also includes 19.5 kilometers of tunnels and 41.2 kilometers of elevated railway. Additionally, authorities plan to procure 66 trainsets for the initial operating stage.
Those trains could carry about 450,000 passengers daily, equivalent to approximately 171 million annual passenger journeys. The design also includes 2.4 kilometers of tunneling beneath the Masar development.
Phase Two will add 84.7 kilometers and extend Lines B and C toward Makkah’s outskirts. It will also introduce the inner and central sections of Lines A and D.
That phase will add 45 stations, two depots and potentially connect with the planned Saudi Landbridge railway. The target operational date remains 2038.
Phase Three will add another 36 kilometers of elevated railway. The final stage will raise capacity to 1.2 million passengers daily by 2045.
Mecca Metro Project expands Saudi Arabia’s rail strategy
The revised procurement approach divides the wider program into three major packages. These cover civil and systems works, transit-oriented developments, and operations and maintenance.
RCMC also proposes public-private partnerships for commercially viable elements. Private special-purpose vehicles could finance, build, operate and transfer selected components.
Transit-oriented developments could include commercial, residential and retail facilities around selected stations. Therefore, the metro program could support urban development beyond passenger transportation.
The project also complements Saudi Arabia’s wider railway expansion. The second phase could potentially connect with the planned Saudi Landbridge, strengthening links between major population and logistics centers.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia is developing new freight connectivity around NEOM’s Oxagon industrial hub. NEOM is pursuing a proposed rail connection exceeding 400 kilometers to SAR’s North-South Railway.
The proposed Oxagon route would connect the Port of NEOM with the Al-Baseeta junction in Al-Jawf Province. Consequently, Saudi Arabia is simultaneously developing passenger and freight rail corridors.
The Oxagon connection would support the Port of NEOM as its industrial operations expand. The port forms a major logistics component of NEOM’s wider development strategy.
Mecca Metro Project: Current status update (2026)
As of 2026, the project has officially moved from planning into active design procurement. The Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites has issued a tender for a lead design consultant, who will update engineering studies, validate passenger demand forecasts, refine station locations, and prepare procurement packages for future construction contracts. Rather than beginning civil works immediately, the Kingdom is first completing detailed engineering to reduce delivery risks and improve cost certainty before construction starts.
Current plans retain a 188-kilometre metro network comprising four lines (A, B, C and D), 89 stations and three depots. Delivery will occur in three phases between 2032 and 2045, replacing the earlier plan to construct the entire network simultaneously. Phase One, valued at approximately US$8 billion, prioritizes Lines B and C, linking the Grand Mosque, Mina, Muzdalifah and Arafat. These corridors experience the highest passenger demand during Hajj and Umrah, making them the project’s immediate priority.
The revived metro programme also reflects Saudi Arabia’s wider investment in rail infrastructure. Alongside Makkah’s urban network, the Kingdom is progressing the Saudi Landbridge Riyadh Section, where the procurement process recently entered the bid clarification stage before contract award. Together, both projects demonstrate Saudi Arabia’s strategy to strengthen passenger mobility and freight connectivity through major railway investments.
The latest procurement also confirms that Saudi authorities favour a phased delivery model for large transport projects. This approach enables engineering designs, financing arrangements and construction packages to mature progressively while aligning delivery with projected growth in pilgrim numbers and urban expansion across Makkah.
Mecca Metro Project Phase 1 expansion framework
Mecca metro project to advance the first implementation stage of the network. Phase 1 focuses on two priority lines, identified as Lines B and C. These corridors will connect key pilgrimage zones and high-demand urban districts. Additionally, planners aim to improve accessibility between transport hubs and religious sites.
Engineering consultants are refining alignments and station locations. They also assess passenger demand during peak seasonal surges. Furthermore, the design prioritizes integration with bus systems and pedestrian corridors. This approach ensures smoother passenger distribution across Mecca.
The initial budget for Phase 1 stands at approximately $8 billion. It covers feasibility studies, preliminary engineering, and early system planning. However, final costs may adjust based on technical refinement. The design stage therefore carries significant influence over future construction efficiency.
Mecca Metro Project design and network cost structure
Mecca metro project design structure falls within a wider investment framework targeting a four-line metro system. The complete network is estimated at up to $16.5 billion. This expansion includes future lines beyond the initial two corridors.
In addition, the broader design vision supports long-term urban growth in Makkah. Planners focus on scalable infrastructure that accommodates rising pilgrim volumes. The system will also enhance emergency evacuation capacity during high-density events.
French engineering firm Systra previously completed preliminary design work for Lines B and C. The company now updates feasibility studies for the revised scope. Meanwhile, Ernst & Young supports financial and economic structuring. Watson Farley & Williams provides legal advisory input for governance and compliance frameworks.
Moreover, collaboration between technical and financial advisors strengthens project bankability. It also ensures alignment between engineering design and investment strategy. As a result, authorities expect a more streamlined procurement pathway for future phases.
Delivery strategy and integrated mobility transformation
The metro project advances through a phased delivery model. Authorities prioritize design validation before construction procurement begins. Consequently, consultants play a central role in shaping final technical specifications.
The system design emphasizes high-capacity movement during peak religious seasons. It also focuses on reducing road congestion in central Makkah. Additionally, planners evaluate digital signaling systems and automated operations for efficiency.
Environmental considerations remain integral to planning decisions. Engineers assess urban density constraints and geological conditions across proposed corridors. Furthermore, safety standards address extreme crowd management scenarios.
Once finalized, the design framework will guide contractor selection and construction sequencing. It will also define interoperability across all transport modes. Therefore, the metro becomes a backbone for integrated pilgrimage mobility.
The ongoing development of the Mecca Metro design aligns closely with Saudi Arabia’s wider urban rail expansion strategy, particularly the rapid progress seen in Riyadh’s metro system. Recently, the Riyadh Metro Western Station reached full operational completion, marking a key milestone in the $23 billion capital transit network. That project demonstrated how large-scale automated metro systems can successfully integrate intermodal hubs, manage high passenger volumes, and support Vision 2030 mobility goals.
Similarly, the planned Mecca Metro aims to adopt comparable design principles, including high-capacity corridors, seamless multimodal connectivity, and congestion reduction in dense urban environments. Consequently, lessons from Riyadh’s execution are expected to inform design refinement and delivery sequencing for Makkah’s forthcoming rail network.
Project Fact Sheet
Project name: Mecca Metro Design and Development Program
Location: Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Project type: Urban metro rail design and future construction program
Number of stations: 89
Current stage: Feasibility and detailed design tender phase
Phase 1 budget: Approximately $8 billion
Total network budget: Up to $16.5 billion
Network scope: Four planned metro lines A to D (initial focus on Lines B and C)
Key objective: Reduce congestion and improve pilgrimage transport efficiency
System type: High-capacity urban rail transit network
Integration plan: Bus networks, pedestrian links, and transport hubs
Project Team
Project owner: Saudi transport and infrastructure authorities
Strategic oversight: Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites
Transport regulator: Transport General Authority, Saudi Arabia
Lead engineering consultant: Systra (France)
Financial advisor: Ernst & Young (global advisory services)
Legal advisor: Watson Farley & Williams (international law firm)
Urban integration planners: Saudi municipal and transport coordination bodies
Systems and rail specialists: International rail technology and signaling consultants (to be appointed)
Stakeholders: Hajj and Umrah service coordination agencies and city development authorities
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