DUBAI: An SR62 billion ($16.5 billion) metro railway project planned for Makkah is progressing well and there is no delay, said Ali Abdelfattah, chief executive-designate of the Makkah’s Mass Rail Transit (MMRT).
Earlier Reuters quoted him as saying that the project had been delayed so that its financing can be restructured.
He reportedly told a construction industry conference in Dubai: “The reason for the delay is some restructuring financially.”
He said that while work on privately funded schemes was largely unaffected in Saudi Arabia, all government-funded projects were going through some sort of restructuring or replanning.
New budgeting constraints have caused changes to the Makkah plan such as modifications to the design of the metro stations, Abdelfattah said.
Later, speaking to Al Arabiya television, Abdelfattah said: “Of course I deny completely what was said and all that was written and the hashtags and the WhatsApp, none of which is correct.” He added: “My remarks were recorded at the conference and this was a technical conference, not a political conference.”
Abdelfattah didn’t comment further when contacted by Reuters.
‘No delay’ in SR62bn Makkah metro project
‘No delay’ in SR62bn Makkah metro project
Saudi Cabinet reviews cooperation and agreements with other nations
- Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman chairs meeting and briefs ministers on his recent meeting with Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi
- Cooperative efforts includes projects focusing on development and education, political consultations, environmental protection, health, investment and air transport
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Council of Ministers reviewed a number of domestic and international matters during a session in Jeddah on Tuesday chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The crown prince briefed the Cabinet on his recent meeting with the Egyptian president, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, which included discussions about regional security and stability, the latest developments in the Middle East, and other topics of importance to the Arab and Islamic world, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
He also shared with ministers the contents of a letter he received from the president of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
The council discussed progress in cooperative efforts involving Saudi Arabia and other countries including Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Armenia, Turkmenistan, Estonia, Cuba and Kiribati, and approved a number of memorandums of understanding.
The cooperation includes projects focusing on development and education, political consultations, environmental protection, health, investment and air-transport services, the press agency said. Ministers also approved an agreement between the Saudi General Authority for Awqaf and its Omani counterpart relating to endowments.
They reviewed national initiatives, including one for the promotion of charitable work, and the enhancement of humanitarian and developmental efforts across the country.
A merger of the National Competitiveness Center with the Saudi Center for Economic Business to create a combined Saudi Competitiveness and Business Center was authorized.
