The planned integrated public transport system for Saudi Arabia's Dammam and Qatif cities will cost around SR60 billion ($16 billion), a senior official was quoted as saying.

Eastern Province Mayor Fahad Al-Jubair said in a report in Arab News that the studies and identification of staions will take about 18 months and the projects expected to be competed by 2021.

The project will consist of light rail, buses, rapid transport and shuttle buses, he said.

The project will have two main lines, including one linking Dareen island in the north of the province to Qatif, passing by Dammam and Dhahran until the King Fahd Causeway, which links Saudi Arabia with Bahrain. The second line will connect King Fahd Road in Dammam and head down to King Fahd International Airport in the west, he said in the report.

Major international railway companies have expressed their intent to participate in the multibillion-riyal project, he said.

French Ambassador Bertrand Besancenot said five specialized companies from his country would compete for the contracts, the report said.