Jean-Pierre Loubinoux Chairman and CEO, SNCF International

The Middle East rail Industry is moving forward at high speed. Entire network are being upgrades, extended and integrated.

SAUDI ARABIA

Saudi Arabia: a promising market Saudi Arabia’s free market economy has undergone remarkable changes in a relatively short period, evolving from a basic agricultural society into a regional and global economic power with modern infrastructure. Saudi Arabia is a leading actor of the oil market: it’s the world’s largest producer and exporter of petroleum. It’s a country generating a lot of tourism as coming to Mecca is the 5th pillar of the Islamic faith. A big market of 25 million inhabitants. A country where more than a billion Muslims travel. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) represents 350 Billion USD in The private sector accounts for 48% of this figure. The sector is expected to grow as Saudi Arabia opens its doors further to foreign investment. In December 2005, Saudi Arabia joined the Word Trade Organization (WTO), a significant development that gives Saudi products greater access to global markets, creates jobs and encourages foreign investment. Saudi Arabia is one of the greatest markets of the Middle East in the medium and long tem.

Saudi Arabia: railway projects Landbridge: the trans-Arabic freight line. Makkah and Madinah Rail link Project.

A group of consultants The client: Representing Saudi Authorities

The existing network:

Landbridge: the trans-Arabic freight line A new line of 950 km between Riyadh et Jeddah A new line of 120 km between Dammam et Jubail Implementation of the project : BOT (PPP) Transfer of SRO to the concessionary

Makkah and Madinah Rail Link project: connecting the holy cities Implementation of the project : BOT (PPP)

 A new service with an easy access for the estimated 10 million pilgrims : Hadj - Umrah and a connection of Makkah with the airport of Jeddah. The government is planning to enhance the Kingdom’s capability to welcome and transport pilgrims. A safer and more comfortable means of transport. Reducing congestion around Jeddah, Makkah et Madinah. Emergence of a commuter service. Reducing road accidents in the Makkah region: 35% of the accidents in the country in Socio-economic benefits: as the 3 economic centers of the Kingdom are bought closer. Why the Makkah and Madinah Rail Link project ?

Big growth of traffic MADINAH MAKKAH JEDDAH  35 million passengers per year on the Makkah-Jeddah corridor.  « Peaks» have been noted on other means of transportation (Road) on the Makkah- Jeddah route.

MMRL: technical solutions The best solution is a HSL: a better corridor and a better return on investments TGV Maglev Lines with double dedicated tracks Electrified lines Slopes of 3.5 to 4% Non Conventional 6 % Non Conventional 6 % Length of the journey The studies have given the following figures:  2h30 minutes Madinah – Makkah  30 minutes Jeddah - Makkah Speed: 300/320 kph

Stations Makkah  The first station leaving town  A station located at 500 m from the Haram Jeddah  A station in the airport  A station in the heart of the city Madina  A station located at 3 Km from the Haram Rabigh  A station to be planned in the King Abdullah Economic City

Connection with the north/south network

OTHER COUNTRIES

Dubai Dubai enjoys a strategic location and acts as the biggest re-exporting centre in the Middle East. Activities such as trade, transport, tourism, industry and finance have shown steady growth and helped the Saudi economy to achieve a high degree of expansion and diversification. Dubai is the Arabian Gulf’s leading multi-purpose business center and regional hub city. Well established trading links exist with the more than 1.5 billion people in the neighboring region. Dubai’s overall international trade has grown on average by over 11% per year since

Dubai Municipality has identified the need for an Urban Rail Transit System to supply additional transportation capacity. They want to relieve growing traffic, and support the city's continuing development and visionary image. In 2003, following the decision to move ahead with the development of an Urban Rail Transit System, the next step was to develop the Preliminary Engineering study. This contract has been signed by Systra. It’s been followed, in 2005, by another contract in partnership with Parsons : management of the project, supervision of the building work, civil engineering, trials, launching as well as assisting Dubail Municipality in selecting the future railway operator and preparing train operations. The Dubai Urban Rail Transit will be the latest in a large number of urban transit systems in prominent cities around the globe, such as Athens, Barcelona, Istanbul, Cairo, Tunis, New Delhi, Bangkok, Kaohsiung, Santiago de Chile and Vancouver. URBAN RAIL TRANSIT SYSTEM

The Dubai Metro System will be built around top-of-the- class modern trains, fully air-conditioned and customised to meet Dubai specific requirements. Each train will be approximately 75m long, consisting of 5 cars, with numerous double doors allowing fast and smooth flows of passengers in station. The trains will offer a standard class, affordable to all, a women and children only section as well as an exclusive 1st Class section. All sections will have a high proportion of seats, and be equipped with a state-of-the-art Passenger Information System. The trains will be driverless, fully automated, offering an extremely safe and reliable service with trains which could run as often as one every minute and a half. 70 km of lines (12,3 km underground) URBAN RAIL TRANSIT SYSTEM

Bahrain Bahrain's oil production is, by Gulf standards, minimal but it refines a large quantity of Saudi oil which arrives in the country through an undersea pipeline. Because of its limited oil production, the country has developed a more diversified economy than the other Gulf states. The largest aluminum smelter in the Middle East is in Bahrain as its a large shipbuilding and repair yard. A legislation allowing 100% foreign ownership to onshore companies and a more equitable agency law. The government has also maintained its commitment to zero taxes on corporate and personal income. The island state has become the international financial services capital of the Middle East. This environment has seen the development of a successful stock exchange.

Bahrain wants to carry out a strategic study aimed at improving the Kingdom’s public transport network. The Ministry recently launched a major program to upgrade the road network, and the bus company has also been privatized. The intention is to set up an integrated transport network which is cost-efficient, reliable and environmentally friendly in order to provide an alternative to private cars which are currently the dominant form of transport in the Kingdom. The Bahrain Ministry of Works and Housing has commissioned SYSTRA with MVA Consultancy, to carry out the strategic study for an integrated transport plan. The contract started in November 2006 and will run for 15 months. Strategic transport plan

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