Saudi Arabia has launched the expression-of-interest (EOI) phase for the Qiddiya High-Speed Rail (QHSR), a public-private partnership that will connect King Salman International Airport (KSIA), King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) and Qiddiya City. The Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC), together with Qiddiya Investment Company (QIC) and the National Center for Privatization & PPP (NCP), said EOI submissions are open from 22 September to 12 October 2025. The line is planned for top speeds up to 250 km/h with a sub-30-minute end-to-end journey time.
The call targets specialized rail developers, operators, and investors under a PPP structure. RCRC and NCP specified that inquiries will be accepted until 11 October 2025, with registrations due by 12 October 2025 at 18:00 KSA time. Trade and industry outlets, along with the Saudi Press Agency, have echoed the timetable as authorities move to prequalify the market.
Sector publications add that this EOI covers the first stage of the project and reiterates the 250 km/h performance target between KSIA and Qiddiya City, underscoring the project’s role as a backbone of Riyadh’s future mobility network.
The new line will interface with KAFD’s monorail—a 3.6-km, driverless, six-station system being reactivated and integrated with the Riyadh Metro. Technical supervision and site works for the monorail’s reactivation have been awarded, and the system is being delivered alongside broader Metro upgrades overseen by the RCRC.
KAFD also hosts what Guinness World Records recognizes as the world’s largest continuous pedestrian skyway network—15.46 km of climate-controlled skywalks completed in 2024 and formally certified on 5 February 2025. The network connects 95 buildings via 42 elevated links and ties directly into the Metro, reinforcing the district’s “10-minute city” mobility approach.
The QHSR is expected to reduce airport-to-city travel times, decongest roads, and accelerate visitor flows to Qiddiya’s entertainment and sports assets—supporting tourism and non-oil growth under Vision 2030. Aviation and infrastructure trackers note the EOI concludes 12 October 2025, aligning with KSIA’s expansion plans and Riyadh’s push for integrated, high-capacity transit.
