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RIYADH: French transport firm Alstom is executing 12 active railway projects across ������Ƶ, revealed the company’s CEO for ������Ƶ and the Middle East. 

In an interview with Al-Eqtisadiah during the Saudi International Railway Exhibition and Conference, Mohamed Khalil said the projects cover the full spectrum of rail services, including design, execution, operation, and maintenance.  

Alstom is a major contributor to Riyadh’s metro network, providing rolling stock and systems for four of the six lines. 

������Ƶ’s rail transport sector recorded a 335 percent year-on-year surge in passengers to 39 million in the third quarter of 2025, fueled by the full launch of the Riyadh Metro. 

“������Ƶ is witnessing a boom in railway projects, and many cities are experiencing internal growth, so they need to connect cities like Jeddah, Dammam, and Al-Ula, in addition to Al-Ula and Riyadh,” Khalil told Al-Eqtisadiah. 

He also pointed to the performance of the Riyadh Metro as evidence of a shifting public transport culture. Despite initial skepticism about its use in a hot climate, the metro has recorded approximately 100 million passengers in its first nine months of operation, establishing itself as a primary mode of daily transport. 

Positioning Alstom as a “global local company” in ������Ƶ, Khalil stressed the company's deep-rooted presence. “We have been here for 70 years, and we aspire to continue for hundreds of years to come, to be an essential part of the infrastructure supporting the growth and development of the railway industry in ������Ƶ,” he concluded. 

The conference was inaugurated by ������Ƶ’s Minister of Transport and Logistics Services, Saleh Al-Jasser, who highlighted the significant leaps the sector is witnessing.  

He emphasized that modern rail transport has become a fundamental pillar for national development and economic growth, facilitating trade and mining operations. 

In a separate statement, Bashar Al-Malik, CEO of the Saudi Railways Co., confirmed that ������Ƶ is working on implementing the remaining parts of a railway line that will link it to other Gulf Cooperation Council countries.  

A 200-km section connecting Dammam to Ras Al-Khair via Jubail is already complete and operational. The final timeline for the GCC-wide rail link is pending approval from the Gulf states’ leaders. 

������Ƶ’s railway network now spans over 5,500 km, including the northern network connecting Riyadh to the Jordanian border, the eastern network linking Riyadh to the Arabian Gulf coast. 

The Haramain High-Speed Railway, which connects the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah with one of the world's fastest electric trains. 

JEDDAH: The UAE’s hospitality sector is shifting from development-led expansion to a more mature investment phase, with Dubai and Abu Dhabi leading growth, a new analysis showed. 

According to Knight Frank’s UAE Hospitality Market Review, hotel performance improved across the board, with revenue per available room and average daily rates both up 11.9 percent year on year through August, while occupancy reached 78.5 percent. 

Dubai, the UAE’s largest hospitality market, saw RevPAR rise 10.1 percent, followed by Ras Al-Khaimah at 10 percent, while Abu Dhabi led the sector with RevPAR up 24 percent and ADR increasing 20.2 percent year on year. 

This expansion reflects broader regional growth driven by strategic diversification across Gulf Cooperation Council member states, highlighting the bloc’s commitment to strengthening hospitality infrastructure and services. 

Faisal Durrani, partner and head of research at Knight Frank, said: “The hospitality sector in the UAE is going from strength to strength, with record tourist arrivals into cities like Dubai being a testament to the emirate’s meteoric rise as one of the world’s most visited cities.” 

Dubai welcomed 11.17 million international visitors between January and July, up 5.2 percent from the same period of 2024, resulting in 25.53 million occupied room nights. 

He added: “Elsewhere in the sector, the UAE hotel transaction market is entering a new phase of maturity in 2025, particularly in Dubai, where investor focus is shifting from development-led expansion to strategic acquisitions and asset repositioning.” 

Durrani emphasized that this evolution reflects a more sophisticated investment landscape, shaped by years of rapid growth and a deepening pool of institutional capital. 

Knight Frank’s market review showed that of the UAE’s 213,928 existing hotel rooms, 26 percent are upscale, 22 percent luxury, and 21 percent upper-upscale. Supply is expected to rise to 217,853 rooms by the end of 2025 and 235,674 by 2030, with 43 percent of the new rooms in the luxury segment. 

Dubai remains the sector’s powerhouse, supported by its D33 Economic Agenda and 2040 Urban Masterplan, with 165,339 existing and upcoming keys. 

Abu Dhabi followed with 37,016 keys, with Sharjah having 14,478 and Ras Al-Khaimah with 11,902 keys. As of August, 55.9 percent of the UAE’s upcoming hotel supply is in Dubai, according to Knight Frank. 

Oussama El-Kadiri, the firm’s partner and head of hospitality, tourism, and leisure advisory, noted that the maturing UAE hospitality market is attracting a broader range of investors — from regional family offices to international players — seeking long-term value through operational enhancements, brand partnerships, and mixed-use integrations. 

“As the UAE transitions from a development-heavy cycle to a more balanced, investment-led phase, hotel transactions are expected to remain active. The market’s maturity, depth and resilience are positioning it as a leading destination for hospitality capital in the region,” El-Kadiri added.