French company Systra has won a consultancy contract from Saudi Arabia to provide preliminary engineering designs for the Jeddah Metro project, a report said.

The contract is valued at SR276 million ($73.59 million), the Arab News report said.

The agreement was signed in the presence of Prince Mansour bin Miteb, Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs and member of the Jeddah transport higher committee, Jeddah Governor Prince Mishaal bin Majed and Makkah Governor Prince Mishaal bin Abdullah and president of the Jeddah transport higher committee.

Prince Mishaal urged the consultancy firm to provide the best designs for the metro, the report said.

He said the project will be one of the most important in the country.

Systra is involved in many railway projects in the kingdom, including: the Al Mashaaer Al Mugaddassah Metro Line and its extension; the Al Haramain High-Speed Line; the Nnorth-South Railway and the King Abdullah Financial District Monorail project.