Local contractors in Saudi Arabia are forming joint ventures with international transport specialists to compete for a monorail contract at Princess Noura bint Abdulrahman University for Women in Riyadh.

The contract, expected to be worth at least SR3.75 billion ($999 million), covers the construction of an 11-km-long monorail network elevated 10 m above the ground.
Saudi Arabia’s Higher Education Ministry has prequalified at least eight local and international firms for the package, which is the fourth construction contract to be offered at the university.
Construction firm Saudi Oger is to submit a bid with Canadian transport manufacturer Bombardier, construction giant Saudi Binladin Group will team up with Japan’s Mitsubishi Corporation, El-Seif Engineering & Contracting is to link up with Germany’s Siemens, and Saudi Freyssinet is to form a venture with Italian technology company Ansaldo STS.