2023-10-24 18:39:21
The railway manufacturer Alstom has signed a partnership for the construction of a tramway in Al-Ula, a historic city located in the northwest of Saudi Arabia, the French Agency for the Development of AlUla (Afalula), chaired by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian. The amount of the operation has not been disclosed.
The line, 22.5 kilometers long, will serve seventeen stations and connect “the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Al-Ula, the historic cities of the oasis and contemporary urban centers”details the press release.
The ambition of the project is to offer travelers a means of getting around “through the largest living museum in the world”, assures Afalula. This agency, chaired by Jean-Yves Le Drian since last July, has the mission of cooperating with the Saudi authorities for the tourist and cultural development of the vast area of Al-Ula, the subject of an agreement signed between Riyadh and Paris in 2018.
Al-Ula is a site particularly rich in archaeological remains and landscapes. Saudi Arabia, which wants to diversify its economy, which is very dependent on oil, intends to accelerate its commercial partnerships with France to make tourism a pillar of its development. The Al-Ula region, which already has an airport, should be able to receive between 1.5 and 2.5 million visitors per year, according to Saudi Arabia.
1698179582
#Alstom #signs #contract #build #tram #Saudi #Arabia
