Tenders for five work packages involving Phase One of the Makkah Metro project have been issued, a top official has said.

“We have done all the tendering for the five contracts (work packages) in Makkah Metro Phase One and we are about to sign contracts,” said Ali Abdelfattah, CEO of Makkah Mass Rail Transit Company.

“Our plans will transform the experience of living and visiting Makkah,” he said ahead of the 11th annual Mena Rail and Metro Summit that will kick off this month (October 5) in Dubai, UAE.

The contracts for the Makkah transport network are said to be worth SR33 billion ($8.8 billion) in total.

Ahead of the transport summit, the region’s leading online projects tracking service, Meed Projects said that contract awards to build the Makkah Metro are imminent.

With metro projects being a priority for governments in the region, tenders are expected next year potentially for the Madinah and Dammam metro networks, it said.