As of 2016, the estimated date for completion, the metro in Doha, capital city of Qatar, will be one of the most advanced rail public transport systems in the word. At the end of 2012, Qatar Rail signed contracts worth USD 406 Million for this project whose total costs had been estimated at USD 36 Billion. Work initiation for the underground transport network in Doha is part of the preparations of the Persian Gulf state for the organisation of the World Football Championship in 2022.
Contracts for the first three lines to be built in the first phase of Doha Metro construction works will be awarded starting with the next month, declared for constructionweekonline.com, Saad Al Muhannadi, CEO of Qatar Rail. The contract for the Red Line will be awarded in March and the contracts for the Yellow and Green lines will be awarded by the end of the second quarter. 18 consortia have been shortlisted in the tender for these contracts.
The first phase of the underground will be commissioned in 2019 and will represent 60% of the final network, with 151 km of line and 48 stations. The second phase will consist in the construction of 100 km of line and 44 stations and will be completed by 2026.
One of the richest Muslim countries, Qatar plans, in the second half of 2013, to launch tenders on the manufacturing and delivery of rolling stock and for the installation of the traffic control systems for the very expensive project of Doha Metro. Qatar estimates that the signing of contracts on the acquisition of rolling stock will take place in 2014.
Qatar also announced that in 2016-2019 the country will finalize four railway projects including Doha Metro, as well as Lusail and West Bay light rail transport networks and sections of the national railway network. The construction of this public rail transport system in Doha is part of the strategy of Qatar Government on modernisation and diversification based on public and private investments. The costs necessary to the implementation of this strategy amount to EUR 130 Billion. The tender for a lot of five underground stations is under evaluation and it is expected to be launched in the second half of 2013, while the tender for the suspended section of Doha Metro is in the final shortlisting phase and should be launched by the end of 2013.
Concerning the railway network that will link the member states of the Gulf Coo-
peration Council, Saad Al Muhannadi, CEO of Qatar Rail, said the offer had already been launched for the detailed design of the entire network whose construction would be divided in three phases. Al Muhannadi also added that until the moment Qatar Rail had received orders from 26 different bidders for this project and said tender procedures would be completed in March.
The member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council plan to invest over USD 79 Billion in railway projects, including metro, tram and rail stations by 2020, shows a study elaborated by Kuwait Financial Centre investment bank. Qatar could invest USD 28.7 Billion, Saudi Arabia USD 20.2 Billion, the United Arab Emirates USD 11.8 Billion, Kuwait USD 6 Billion and Oman USD 2.5 Billion.
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