Saudi Arabia - Railways Trade Mission

Saudi Arabia continues to invest in new railways and urban transportation systems, offering many opportunities for UK companies to supply into a number of exciting projects, such as:

• North-South Mineral Railway – 2400 km railway ($5 billion plus)

• Land bridge1000km railway, linking Riyadh & Jeddah/Dammam and Jubail ($5 billion)

• Makkah-Jeddah -Madinah high-speed passenger line – 450 km ($5 billion)

• Riyadh light rail project ($2 billion)

• Jeddah light/mono rail project

The programme is a busy one, taking place in three key cities. Various briefings, meetings and networking activities are planned, providing UK companies with an opportunity to present their products, knowledge and experience to key decision makers, advisors and contractors. These include SRO, SAR, Riyadh Development Agency and a number of local engineering and construction companies in the project consortia. Opportunities exist for product suppliers and specialist service providers across all disciplines.

Register your interest

To register your interest and receive a full itinerary, complete and return the attached application form. If you need to apply using a different format, contact shughes@riagb.org.uk.

Travel and accommodation

Delegates will make their own travel arrangements for outbound, internal and return flights once RIA has confirmed participation and the final programme is confirmed. The outline programme is expected to be:

• Thursday/Friday 29/30 September - Depart UK

• Saturday 1 October - Jeddah company meetings and evening networking reception

• Sunday 2 October - Jeddah meetings, flight to Riyadh and evening reception

• Monday 3 October - Riyadh meetings, flight to Al-Khobar and networking reception

• Tuesday 4 October - Al-Khobar meetings, return to UK (or remain for follow up, returning 5 October)

A full programme and details of preferred flights will be sent to registered delegates and RIA will arrange local hotel accommodation on your behalf - but delegates will be responsible for paying charges, including cancellation fees if applicable. Credit card details will be required to secure bookings in due course.

Insurance

Prior to participation you should ensure that you have suitable and adequate travel insurance, which should include, as appropriate, cover for any loss or damage to a person, property or earnings. Participants should also ensure that the insurance covers travel on work purposes and for the relevant time period.

Visas

Visas are mandatory to enter Saudi Arabia and you will be responsible for arranging your own business visa. Your passport will need to be valid for at least six months after entry date. An electronic process is in place to expedite visas, but early confirmation on the mission will aid the process.

Costs

Mission delegates will be responsible for all flight, accommodation and subsistence charges apart from ground transportation between meeting venues for the main group and catering at networking events which will be provided by UKTI.

In order to arrange the programme of group meetings we are required to commission a Group OMIS (OMIS is UKTI’s chargeable Overseas Market Introduction Service). Costs for this will be £300 per participating company. This will cover group meetings only, but if delegates are interested in a more specific one-to-one meetings programme, tailored to their product or service, there may be opportunity to commission further work to arrange this. However, this will need to integrate with - or sit outside - the main programme.