Italian State Railways and Saudi Railway Company Sign MoU to Expand Rail and Mobility Projects in MENA Region
On 17 June 2026, the historic streets of Rome became the backdrop for a forward‑looking partnership when Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane (FS) and Saudi Railway Company (SAR) inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The deal, signed by FS Group CEO Stefano Antonio Donnarumma and SAR CEO Bashar Al Malik, sets the stage for a comprehensive collaboration that will span the entire railway value chain across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
FS, Italy’s state‑owned railway holding company, manages roughly 17,000 km of track, including 1,000 km of high‑speed lines. SAR, the national operator of Saudi Arabia’s rail network, is a state‑owned enterprise under the Public Investment Fund. The MoU aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which seeks to diversify the economy and build an integrated freight and passenger rail network.
The agreement outlines joint work in key areas such as the design and construction of railway and metro infrastructure, the creation of intermodal hubs, and the enhancement of network resilience. Both parties also commit to advancing transport decarbonisation, infrastructure engineering, and the digitalisation of railway processes to boost efficiency and safety throughout the supply chain.
Technology will be the linchpin of the partnership. FS and SAR plan to collaborate on Building Information Modelling (BIM), advanced information‑management systems, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine‑learning (ML) applications. These tools will support design, project execution, construction supervision, maintenance, safety systems, and operational control, enabling data‑driven decision making from conception to operation.
Research, innovation, and specialised training form another cornerstone of the MoU. The two companies will pursue joint research and development programmes, facilitate technology transfer, and develop a pipeline of qualified professionals for the region’s railway sector. King Saud University is expected to play a role in training and research initiatives, bringing academic expertise to the collaboration.
Operationally, the MoU covers cooperation on operations and maintenance, freight and logistics, and advisory services for institutional and private investors. It also includes the development of reference models for railway safety, the creation of certified standards, digital tools, and joint centres of excellence that will oversee asset design, production, inspection, testing, certification, and management.
A pivotal element of the partnership is the establishment of a regional testing hub in Saudi Arabia. The hub will conduct static and dynamic testing of rolling stock, signalling and control systems, and assess performance, resilience, and operational safety. This facility is intended to support the testing needs of future Saudi rail projects and could serve other MENA operators.
To ensure the MoU’s successful implementation, a working group will be set up to monitor progress, coordinate activities, and guarantee that agreed objectives are met efficiently and on schedule.
In essence, the FS–SAR MoU creates a holistic collaboration that traverses design, construction, operation, and testing. By merging European railway expertise with Saudi Arabia’s ambitious rail vision, the partnership aims to accelerate the development of a modern, sustainable, and interconnected rail network across the MENA region.
