Egypt signed an agreement with Siemens Mobility, Orascom Construction and Arab Contractors to design and build the country’s first high-speed rail network that will be 1,000 kilometres long.
The agreement was signed by the country’s National Authority for Tunnels and the consortium, Orascom Construction said yesterday.
The initial high-speed rail line will be 460km long and will cater to both passenger and cargo services.
It will have an order value of about $3 billion and will connect Ain Sokhna on the Red Sea to Al Alamein on the Mediterranean Sea while passing through the new administrative capital east of Cairo.
The mega-project is expected to be completed within two years at an overall cost of 360bn Egyptian pounds ($23bn), Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El Sisi said, according to the Facebook page of the presidency's spokesman.
The Arab world’s most populous country is undertaking several new projects to upgrade its transport network.
The project builds on Orascom Construction’s transport portfolio that includes monorail, light rail, railway and metro projects.
The Cairo-based company is an engineering and construction contractor mainly focused on infrastructure, industrial and high-end commercial projects in the Middle East, Africa and the US.
Orascom Construction and Siemens have worked together in the past on power projects in Egypt.
“Following our joint success with Siemens on Egypt’s mega power projects, we are pleased to partner once again with our long-term repeat partner,” said Mr Bishai.
The agreement was signed by NAT chairman Essam Waly and Mr Peter last Thursday.
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Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
MATCH INFO
Borussia Dortmund 0
Bayern Munich 1 (Kimmich 43')
Man of the match: Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich)
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Explainer: Tanween Design Programme
Non-profit arts studio Tashkeel launched this annual initiative with the intention of supporting budding designers in the UAE. This year, three talents were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a part of the sixth creative development programme. These are architect Abdulla Al Mulla, interior designer Lana El Samman and graphic designer Yara Habib.
The trio have been guided by experts from the industry over the course of nine months, as they developed their own products that merge their unique styles with traditional elements of Emirati design. This includes laboratory sessions, experimental and collaborative practice, investigation of new business models and evaluation.
It is led by British contemporary design project specialist Helen Voce and mentor Kevin Badni, and offers participants access to experts from across the world, including the likes of UK designer Gareth Neal and multidisciplinary designer and entrepreneur, Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi.
The final pieces are being revealed in a worldwide limited-edition release on the first day of Downtown Designs at Dubai Design Week 2019. Tashkeel will be at stand E31 at the exhibition.
Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel, said: “The diversity and calibre of the applicants this year … is reflective of the dynamic change that the UAE art and design industry is witnessing, with young creators resolute in making their bold design ideas a reality.”
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
The Book of Collateral Damage
Sinan Antoon
(Yale University Press)
The specs: 2018 Nissan Patrol Nismo
Price: base / as tested: Dh382,000
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 428hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 560Nm @ 3,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 100km
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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Log4j breach: December 2021; attackers exploited the Java-written code to inflitrate businesses and governments
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The specs: McLaren 600LT
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Sokratis Papastathopoulos 45 4'
Eddie Ntkeiah 51'
Portsmouth 0
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The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
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