Mobico Group (Mobico) has announced that its key Spanish subsidiary, ALSA, as part of a joint venture, has won an eight-year capital-light contract worth a total of €500 million ($581 million) in the Kingdom of Saudia Arabia.

Formerly the National Express Group, Mobico is a British multinational public transport company with headquarters in Birmingham. Domestically it operates bus and coach services under brands including National Express.

The contract, which will be run with a local company, includes the operation of 156 vehicles, 126 of which will be electric, serving Qiddiya, a new city on the outskirts of Riyadh. 

Qiddiya is one of Saudia Arabia’s key strategic projects and is expected to become the largest entertainment destination in the country.

The contract involves the operation of Park & Ride facilities and shuttle services connecting Riyadh and Qiddiya.

Phil White, Executive Chair of Mobico, said: "This new contract, which meets our disciplined return hurdles, strengthens Mobico’s presence in the Middle East and showcases ALSA’s ability to win competitive contracts in large-scale overseas projects, positioning ourselves as a leading operator of innovative, sustainable transport services."

This contract win builds on ALSA’s existing presence in Saudi Arabia, where it began operating in October 2023, providing long-haul, intercity services across the southern region of the country, he added.-TradeArabia News Service