Riyadh Transit Network Project denies claims of unpaid bills for Riyadh metro project
April 9, 2021, 9:54 am

Riyadh Transit Network Project denies claims of unpaid bills for Riyadh metro project

A metro line leaves on a test drive to the King Abdullah Financial District station during an exclusive tour of the Riyadh Metro on April 1, 2021 in the Saudi capital. (AFP)

The Riyadh Transit Network Project has “categorically denied” claims published by Bloomberg that it owed billions of dollars in unpaid bills to international firms working on the Riyadh Metro project, according to an official statement.

“Without prejudice to the story that was published on 5 April by Bloomberg “Saudi Arabia’s Unpaid Tab With Metro Builders Runs Into Billions” we wish to state at the outset that we categorically deny any claims that contractors have not been paid,” RTNP said in a response released on Thursday.“We wish to give the present reply with the sole intention of clarifying any doubts leveled against the RTNP and also would want to reiterate that all claims filed go through a dispute resolution process in order for all disputes to be to be resolved professionally and amicably,” the statement added.

On Tuesday, Bloomberg published its report citing five anonymous sources that US-based Bechtel Corp. and other international firms were pursuing billions of dollars in unpaid bills from Saudi Arabia’s government for work done on the Riyadh metro project.

Bloomberg reported that Bechtel is owed around $1 billion for its work on the Riyadh Metro project, citing four of the sources familiar with the matter.

The Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC) said it has ensured that payments to contractors were made in a timely manner, following the submission of their contractual payment certificates without delay.

“The Covid-19 pandemic affected the construction of mega projects, such as supply chain interruptions. However, despite the outbreak, we have ensured the project’s continuity, as we adapted business behavior and construction processes,” RTNP said.

“Moreover, support has been given to the consortium of contractors during the period of the pandemic, and discussions are currently underway to evaluate this level of support, in a fair and financially-responsible manner,” the company added.

source: Ismaeel Naar

Image source: Reuters

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”