The Government of Egypt has appointed a consortium to design and build the $4.5 billion Cairo Monorail following an extensive tender process supported by Khatib & Alami (K&A).

As lead government transaction advisors on the construction, financing and operations of the megaproject, K&A and its partners Getinsa, TEGC and Sarie Eldin & Partners, worked closely with the Ministry of Transport and Ministry of Housing to secure the best financing structure for the project. This included the development of early feasibility studies across financial, technical and legal disciplines, through to successfully supporting the Ministries to run a complex end-to-end tender process involving world class international and regional bidders.

Canadian manufacturing group Bombardier’s mobility solution providing arm, Bombardier Transportation, alongside Orascom Construction and Arab Contractors, have been chosen to deliver the two monorail lines in Egypt’s capital. Upon completion of construction, the consortium will operate and maintain (O&M) both the lines for 30 years. The agreement is subject to final signatures of supplementary documents.
Dr Najib Khatib, chairman and CEO of K&A, said: “We are proud to have worked closely with our clients for over a year on this important project that will be a game changer for public transport in Cairo. Our focus was on getting best value for money to the Government of Egypt, and a transport solution which truly helps with the country’s public transport needs.”
The monorails, which will be able to transport 45,000 passengers per-hour in either direction, are set to transform the quality of life for millions of people in Cairo by reducing their daily commuting time, while also providing economic, health and air quality improvements associated with a reduction in traffic congestion. The first line will run 34 miles (54 kilometers) from east Cairo to the new administrative capital being built in the desert. The second line, which will run for 26 miles, will connect 6th October City to Giza.
Helena De Flaviis, Senior Director and head of K&A’s Infrastructure Development & Advisory business, said: “The scale of this project clearly demonstrates our success in building our capabilities as a provider of world-class financial, technical and legal advisory services. We look forward to supporting other transport authorities in the region with their public transport financing challenges.”
K&A is currently advising a broad range of public and private sector clients across the MENA region on the best technical and financial solutions for their infrastructure needs across the transportation, utilities and social infrastructure sectors.