Bahrain’s Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications (MTT) is hosting a global market sounding event this month to introduce the Bahrain Metro project to international and regional players.

The ministry is looking to collaborate with the private sector on a public-private partnership (PPP) basis to encourage innovation, bring efficiencies and provide the best value for money for this project, said the ministry.

The virtual event is titled “Bahrain Metro Market Consultation” and will encourage  dialogue with the industry, said the ministry. 

MTT aspires to develop a state-of-the-art public transport network with a fully automated driverless system leveraging the latest innovation and technology, while incorporating international standards and best practices and concurrently having the scope for scalability and providing the best value for money, it said.

The Bahrain Metro Project envisages the development of a 109-km urban transit network in a phased manner, which will comprise four transit lines.

The first phase of the metro system will consist of two lines with a total length of 29 km, served by 20 stations, of which two stations will offer interchange from one line to another. The lines, which will be operated by driverless trains, are expected to be operational in 2027.

The first line, which will be served by nine stations, will connect the Airport to Seef Mall through Airport Avenue and King Faisal Highway, The Avenues Mall, Bab Al Bahrain, and City Center Bahrain. The second line will run from Juffair to the educational area in Isa Town, crossing the Al Fateh Highway, Diplomatic Area and Bab Al Bahrain extending to Al Farooq Junction.

The two lines will be interconnected at Bab Al Bahrain and Al Farooq Junction stations. The system capacity will be 43,000 passengers per hour.

The project will be tendered on a PPP basis and the ministry has appointed a team comprising KPMG as the lead and financial advisor, Egis as the technical advisor, and DLA Piper as the legal advisor. The project is expected to be tendered through a global competitive bidding process later in the year, it said.