Saudi Arabia awards Jeddah water taxi feasibility study deal to private firm

A contract to carry out feasibility studies for the implementation of water taxi service in Jeddah was awarded to a private sector company, Al-Watan newspaper has reported, citing Osama Abdu, chairman of Jeddah Metro Company. 

"The water taxi is among the three major projects within our pipeline, which also include Obhur Suspension Bridge and the Corniche Tram," Abdu said. 

He added that the feasibility studies are yet to be approved by Prince Khalid Al-Faisal, Adviser to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and Governor of Makkah province. 

The project will comprise three phases - the feasibility study as well as the technical plan, the bid requalification, and the final agreement.

"The water taxi project construction is forecast to take 24 months," Abdu noted.

Jeddah water taxi will have a capacity of 29,000 passenger/day and falls within the Jeddah public transport program, which was approved by the Saudi Cabinet in March 2013.