Two international consortia have submitted bids to build a $12.5 billion high-speed rail line linking the Saudi cities of Mecca and Medina with the King Abdulaziz International Airport.

French-Saudi Al-Rajhi group, which includes French high-speed rail operator SNCF and a Saudi-Spanish group led by local Al Shoula Holding Group, submitted plans on Sunday (July 4) to complete the second phase of the Haramain High-Speed Railway project.

The project will link cities of Medina and Mecca via King Abdullah Economic City, Rabigh, Jeddah and King Abdulaziz International Airport with 450km of electric-powered rail lines.

The rail line is intended to offer Muslim pilgrims a convenient link between the three cities during the annual hajj when some 2.5 million people from all over the world convene in Mecca for two weeks.

By Oliver Clark