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Belal Deiranieh
Head of Transportation, Middle East, Dubai, United Arab Emirates contact form
The Gulf’s Mobility Shift
From national vision to operational reality - a perspective on engineering, delivery and the transport programmes redefining how the Gulf region moves.
A Region in Motion
What is unfolding across the Gulf right now is unprecedented. Mobility has become the foundation upon which cities grow, economies function and communities stay connected. Alongside transforming the way people move and connect, landmark projects such as Etihad Rail, Riyadh Metro, Dubai Metro, Saudi Arabia Railways and Qatar Rail are redefining how the entire construction sector plans, designs and delivers.
This is also happening at a moment when resilience matters the most. Recent disruptions to airspace and maritime routes across the region have made one thing clear: reliable, land-based infrastructure is no longer a convenience, it is a strategic necessity.
Please note that you are now leaving the AtkinsRéalis website (legal name: AtkinsRéalis Group inc.) and entering a website maintained by a third party (the "External Website") and that you do so at your own risk.
AtkinsRéalis has no control over the External Website, any data or other content contained therein or any additional linked websites. The link to the External Website is provided for convenience purposes only. By clicking "Accept" you acknowledge and agree that AtkinsRéalis is not responsible, and does not accept or assume any responsibility or liability whatsoever for the data protection policy, the content, the data or the technical operation of the External Website and/or any linked websites and that AtkinsRéalis is not liable for the terms and conditions (or terms of use) of the External Website. Further, you acknowledge and agree that you assume all risks resulting from entering and/or using the External Website and/or any linked websites.
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Such waiver and release specifically includes, without limitation, any and all rights and claims pertaining to reliance on the data or content of the External Website, or claims pertaining to the processing of personal data, including but not limited to any rights under any applicable data protection statute. You also recognize by clicking “Accept” that the terms of this disclaimer are reasonable.
The information provided by Virtua Research cited herein is provided “as is” and “as available” without warranty of any kind. Use of any Virtua Research data is at a user’s own risk and Virtua Research disclaims any liability for use of the Virtua Research data. Although the information is obtained or compiled from reliable sources Virtua Research neither can nor does guarantee or make any representation or warranty, either express or implied, as to the accuracy, validity, sequence, timeliness, completeness or continued availability of any information or data, including third-party content, made available herein. In no event shall Virtua Research be liable for any decision made or action or inaction taken in reliance on any information or data, including third-party content. Virtua Research further explicitly disclaims, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any warranty of any kind, whether express or implied, including warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and non-infringement.
The consensus estimate provided by Virtua Research is based on estimates, forecasts and predictions made by third party financial analysts, as described above. It is not prepared based on information provided by AtkinsRéalis and can only be seen as a consensus view on AtkinsRéalis' possible future results from an outside perspective. AtkinsRéalis has not provided input on these forecasts, except by referring to past publicly disclosed information. AtkinsRéalis does not accept any responsibility for the quality or accuracy of any individual or average of forecasts or estimates. This web page contains forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by third parties. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between AtkinsRéalis' actual future results, financial situation, development or performance, and the estimates given here.
Mobility is no longer about getting from point A to point B. It is becoming the foundation for how cities grow, how economies function, and how communities stay connected.
Campbell Gray
CEO AtkinsRéalis Middle East & Africa
Projects Defining a Generation
Each of these projects brings a distinct ambition. Etihad Rail is establishing long distance freight connectivity across a 900 kilometre network designed to evolve into high speed passenger services. Riyadh Metro stands as one of the world’s largest fully automated systems, while Dubai Metro has set global benchmarks for reliability and performance in an extreme climate.
Qatar Rail has delivered a world-class metro system for Doha and continues to advance a national rail network that will connect the country's key economic centres. Saudi Arabia Railways continues to drive passenger and freight connectivity at a national scale, laying the groundwork for a fully integrated rail economy.
Individually, these programmes are impressive. Collectively, they are redefining what transport engineering and delivery look like in the region.
From Vision to Connected Reality
A new era of mobility is taking shape across the Middle East as national ambitions turn into fully integrated transport networks. Landmark rail and metro programmes are strengthening resilience, improving connectivity and setting a new standard for engineering and delivery across the region.
The next frontier is regional connectivity. Cross‑border freight and high‑speed passenger corridors will fundamentally change how the GCC moves goods and people.
Belal Deiranieh
Senior Vice President – Transportation, AtkinsRéalis
Reshaping How We Build
Beyond infrastructure outcomes, these projects have matured the entire construction ecosystem. Integrated delivery models are replacing traditional siloes, with designers, contractors, systems specialists and operators working together from the outset. With rail assets designed to operate over decades, whole life performance, maintainability and operational readiness are now embedded far earlier in the decision making process.
What Comes Next
The next phase of growth lies in regional integration. The planned GCC Railway will link six countries into a single integrated economic corridor, connecting people, freight and opportunity across borders in ways never seen before. The technical ability to deliver these networks has been proven. The next challenge is interoperability, shared standards and seamless integration across national systems.
Digital technology will be the backbone of what follows: AI-enabled operations, predictive maintenance, digital twins and real-time optimisation are already reshaping how networks are managed. The industry is shifting from delivering assets to sustaining performance across decades, and that demands a different mindset from the very first day of design.
Our role at AtkinsRéalis throughout has been to make that ambition into practical delivery by integrating planning, design, systems and operations to ensure transport networks open safely, perform reliably and create lasting value for the region.
Spotlight: Riyadh Metro
Designing the world’s largest public transport network project
The Riyadh Metro, which is the largest public transport network project in the world, will address the growing transportation needs of the city of Riyadh. The project aims to provide a modern, efficient, and sustainable public transportation system to improve mobility, reduce congestion, and enhance the overall quality of life for the residents and visitors. The Riyadh Metro is part of the broader vision to diversify the economy and promote sustainable development in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Riyadh Metro is an integral part of the King Abdulaziz Public Transport Project, which is dedicated to building, operating, and developing a world-class rapid transport network for Riyadh, providing comfortable, affordable, and time-saving mobility options for all people living and visiting the city.
Please note that you are now leaving the AtkinsRéalis website (legal name: AtkinsRéalis Group inc.) and entering a website maintained by a third party (the "External Website") and that you do so at your own risk.
AtkinsRéalis has no control over the External Website, any data or other content contained therein or any additional linked websites. The link to the External Website is provided for convenience purposes only. By clicking "Accept" you acknowledge and agree that AtkinsRéalis is not responsible, and does not accept or assume any responsibility or liability whatsoever for the data protection policy, the content, the data or the technical operation of the External Website and/or any linked websites and that AtkinsRéalis is not liable for the terms and conditions (or terms of use) of the External Website. Further, you acknowledge and agree that you assume all risks resulting from entering and/or using the External Website and/or any linked websites.
BY ENTERING THE EXTERNAL WEBSITE, YOU ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT YOU COMPLETELY AND IRREVOCABLY WAIVE ANY AND ALL RIGHTS AND CLAIMS AGAINST ATKINSRÉALIS, AND RELEASE, DISCHARGE, INDEMNIFY AND HOLD HARMLESS ATKINSRÉALIS, ITS OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, DIRECTORS AND AGENTS FROM ANY AND ALL LIABILITY INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LIABILITY FOR LOSS, DAMAGES, EXPENSES AND COSTS ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH ENTERING AND/OR USING THE EXTERNAL WEBSITE AND/OR ANY LINKED WEBSITES AND ANY DATA AND/OR CONTENT CONTAINED THEREIN.
Such waiver and release specifically includes, without limitation, any and all rights and claims pertaining to reliance on the data or content of the External Website, or claims pertaining to the processing of personal data, including but not limited to any rights under any applicable data protection statute. You also recognize by clicking “Accept” that the terms of this disclaimer are reasonable.
The information provided by Virtua Research cited herein is provided “as is” and “as available” without warranty of any kind. Use of any Virtua Research data is at a user’s own risk and Virtua Research disclaims any liability for use of the Virtua Research data. Although the information is obtained or compiled from reliable sources Virtua Research neither can nor does guarantee or make any representation or warranty, either express or implied, as to the accuracy, validity, sequence, timeliness, completeness or continued availability of any information or data, including third-party content, made available herein. In no event shall Virtua Research be liable for any decision made or action or inaction taken in reliance on any information or data, including third-party content. Virtua Research further explicitly disclaims, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any warranty of any kind, whether express or implied, including warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and non-infringement.
The consensus estimate provided by Virtua Research is based on estimates, forecasts and predictions made by third party financial analysts, as described above. It is not prepared based on information provided by AtkinsRéalis and can only be seen as a consensus view on AtkinsRéalis' possible future results from an outside perspective. AtkinsRéalis has not provided input on these forecasts, except by referring to past publicly disclosed information. AtkinsRéalis does not accept any responsibility for the quality or accuracy of any individual or average of forecasts or estimates. This web page contains forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by third parties. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between AtkinsRéalis' actual future results, financial situation, development or performance, and the estimates given here.
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