Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) has awarded a contract for the Dammam Second Industrial City Railway Connection Project to a joint venture between OHL Arabia and Hassan Allam Construction Saudi Limited Co. OHL Arabia is the Saudi subsidiary of OHLA, described as a global infrastructure group, while Hassan Allam Construction Saudi Limited Co is a subsidiary of Hassan Allam Holding. The project is framed as a strategic transport link in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province near the Arabian Gulf. It is also described as supporting national efforts to elevate freight mobility, industrial integration, and logistical efficiency within long-term transportation and infrastructure expansion plans.
The project’s core delivery is a 22.7 km single-track railway, and the joint venture is tasked with the full scope of civil and railway works. Reported scope elements include extensive civil foundations, earthworks, and track infrastructure, plus track construction and rail systems. It also includes signalling and telecommunication systems, alongside network integration works. The Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) is referenced in the scope as well, with required works intended to ensure full integration of the new line into the wider network. The contract value and completion timeline were not disclosed.
What Makes the Alignment and Structures Stand Out
Two major structures are repeatedly highlighted as defining elements of the build. The project includes a 265 m bridge across Highway HW615, and a 118 m bridge over the Aramco Pipeline Corridor. These components sit within the wider civil and railway package rather than being standalone works, linking the engineering structures to the overall goal of creating a new freight artery. In practical terms, the structural scope signals that the connection is more than track-laying, and requires complex coordination across transport corridors and utility-sensitive zones.
In its national context, the connection is presented as part of SAR’s broader freight push. One report notes that SAR has already rolled out five Gulf-to-inland freight routes linking Gulf ports with the Kingdom’s central and northern logistics spine. Another states that in April, SAR launched five new logistics routes to enhance supply chain efficiency. Against that backdrop, the Dammam connection is positioned as a way to make rail a more practical option for manufacturers and logistics operators by strengthening links between Dammam’s industrial base, King Abdulaziz Port, and Riyadh Dry Port, according to commentary cited in coverage.
The SAR Dammam Second Industrial City rail link is also described in terms of its industrial reach. One report states the expansion will connect more than 1,000 global and local facilities in the Dammam industrial zone to ports and other logistics hubs across the country. For the delivery team, the award is also framed as a portfolio milestone. Hassan Allam Holding is described as being involved in other regional mobility projects, including Cairo Metro Line 4 and the Alexandria Raml Tram in Egypt, the monorail serving Riyadh’s King Abdullah Financial District, and the Hafeet Rail connecting Oman and the United Arab Emirates.
Who is building the Dammam Second Industrial City rail connection for SAR?
How long is the Dammam Second Industrial City Railway Connection Project?
What major bridges are included in the project scope?
What systems work is part of the rail link delivery?
How is the SAR Dammam Second Industrial City rail link described in terms of industrial connectivity?
