MENA rail projects set under FS-Saudi MoU

MENA rail projects are part of a new agreement between Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane and Saudi Railway Company, with cooperation covering infrastructure, digital systems, safety, innovation, sustainability, and professional training.

Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane, Italy’s state-owned railway group, is expanding its international activity through a strategic partnership with Saudi Railway Company, the railway company of Saudi Arabia.

The two sides have signed a memorandum of understanding⁠ that sets out areas for cooperation linked to the development of rail mobility. These include infrastructure, sustainability, digitalization, safety, and technological innovation.

The agreement focuses on opportunities in the MENA region, covering the Middle East and North Africa, where transport and rail infrastructure investment is increasing.

The document was signed for FS by Stefano Antonio Donnarumma, the group’s general manager and CEO. Saudi Railway Company was represented by its CEO, Bashar Al Malik.

MENA rail projects and long-term collaboration

The memorandum is intended to create a long-term cooperation framework based on the knowledge and practical experience of both companies.

The companies plan to identify opportunities in rail transport and integrated mobility. The areas named in the agreement include infrastructure, design, operations, maintenance, logistics, and digital systems.

Stefano Antonio Donnarumma said the memorandum with Saudi Railway Company creates a structure for strategic cooperation in a region that is important for FS’s international development.

“The Memorandum of Understanding with Saudi Railway Company defines a framework for strategic collaboration in a region of great relevance, such as the Middle East and North Africa. The agreement is part of the broader institutional dialogue initiated between Italy and Saudi Arabia in the transportation and infrastructure sector and represents an important step in the FS Group’s path toward international growth,”

He added that the companies intend to develop opportunities together in railway, infrastructure, and sustainable mobility.

“The goal is to jointly develop new opportunities in the railway, infrastructure, and sustainable mobility sectors, exploring strategic areas of collaboration such as infrastructure engineering, digitalization, railway safety, certification, and testing. Through this partnership, we intend to make available the expertise, know-how, and industrial experience accumulated by the FS Group, contributing to the development of increasingly innovative, efficient, and sustainable transportation systems,”

Rail and metro infrastructure in the MENA region

Under the memorandum, the companies will work on joint projects in the MENA region, particularly in the design and construction of railway and metro infrastructure.

The scope also includes intermodal hubs, measures to reinforce network resilience, and transport decarbonization solutions.

Cooperation will extend to infrastructure engineering and the digital transformation of processes. The agreement refers to advanced tools and methods such as BIM, information management, artificial intelligence, and machine learning.

These areas cover design, project implementation, construction site supervision, maintenance support, safety, and systems for operational control.

Research, innovation, and technical training

The memorandum also includes research, innovation, and specialized technical training.

King Saud University⁠, one of the leading universities in Saudi Arabia, is expected to be involved in the cooperation.

The aim is to create joint programmes for research and development, technology transfer, and skills training to support the development of the railway sector in the region.

The agreement also covers infrastructure operation and maintenance, freight transport and logistics, consulting for institutional and private investors, and benchmark models for railway safety.

Railway testing in Saudi Arabia

The partnership may also support the creation of certified standards, digital tools, and joint centers of excellence.

Its objective is to build regional capabilities in the design, production, inspection, testing, certification, and management of railway assets.

One of the planned directions is the development of railway testing expertise in Saudi Arabia.

The companies aim to prepare the basis for a possible regional hub focused on static and dynamic testing, validation of next-generation rolling stock, signaling and control systems, and assessment of performance, resilience, and operational safety.

FS and Saudi Railway Company will create a working group to coordinate and monitor the activities needed to carry out the objectives defined in the memorandum.