Rail Development in the Middle East
Introduction
The Middle East rail industry is growing rapidly, as the region focuses on building its rail infrastructure from the ground up. With almost $200billion being invested on new rail projects in the Middle East, there are a number of benefits to look forward to from this new rail boom.
The engineering skills shortage continues to make the headlines all over the world. Experienced and skilled rail engineers are scarce within the Middle East and therefore one of the biggest challenges is how to recruit the talented rail professionals, which this region will need over the coming years.
Projects in the Middle East
QATAR RAIL
With Qatar hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup, rail projects have been generated in abundance in order to meet the travel needs of both locals and visitors, as well as to create an extensive infrastructure that will cater for the state’s ambitious growth plans. This growth will, of course, extend beyond the World Cup, as almost every country within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is investing in new metro, passenger and freight services.
The aim of the Qatar Rail project is to develop a world‐class public transport system. The project includes the Doha Metro Mass Transit, Lusail Light Rail Transit, as well as the Long Distance Passenger and Freight Lines. The first scheduled phase should open in 2019 and will completely transform Qatar. The second phase aims to be completed by 2026, making it a long‐term project with sustainable job growth for up to 25,000 rail professionals.
SAUDI RAILWAYS
Gulf rail technology and innovation is being driven by new rail projects in Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Rail Program aims to put the passenger at the core of high‐profile projects which are currently in development. Safety, comfort and reliability are high priorities. Meanwhile, the Saudi Landbridge project, linking the Red Sea to the Arabian Gulf, will transform the existing rail network into a world‐class freight and passenger rail link. In addition, the new Jeddah Metro Light Rail Transit will ease traffic congestion in the city, whilst the Riyadh Metro system is a four‐year project to develop a metro network in the capital, complete with a state‐of‐the‐art luxury underground station that boasts gold‐plated walls, marble walkways and modern designs. With so many exciting rail developments in production, rail engineers and designers will undoubtedly be in high demand.
These rail projects require engineers with a variety of skill‐sets and abilities. About 8,000 skilled and unskilled workers, as well as 5,000 engineers, have so far been involved in the Makkah Mass Rail Transit Project, known as ‘Mecca Metro’, which will ease congestion during pilgrimages. The first high‐speed passenger rail line for Saudi Arabia, the Harmain High Speed Rail project, will link the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah, cutting travel time to just two hours. It will also combine both efficiency and aesthetics to make connections easier.
UAE 2030 TRANSPORT PLAN
Highly‐knowledgeable and experienced engineers are also required to deliver a world‐class sustainable transport system that supports Abu Dhabi’s economic, social, cultural and environmental goals. The Abu Dhabi 2030 Transportation Plan is already underway, which includes a Metro and Light Rail Transit. Moving from a limited bus service and a dependence on private cars and taxis to the more advanced rail system will be a huge change. This will provide a great scope of opportunities for hard‐working candidates looking for a challenge.
Meanwhile, Etihad Rail will be the first national freight and passenger railway network connecting the seven emirates of the UAE. The 1,200km railway project is estimated to cost $11bn and the scope of work includes design, procurement, construction, testing and commissioning of the infrastructure. Engineers with experience and knowledge in these areas are likely to be in demand.
Guinness World Records has declared Dubai Metro as the world’s longest fully automated metro network spanning at 75 kilometres (47 mi).http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dubai_Metro ‐ cite_note‐9#cite_note‐9 Current talks of an extension to this will certainly become reality if Dubai wins its bid to host Dubai Expo 2020. In addition with only a year to completion the Al Suffouh Tram will add to Dubai’s public transport systems.
OMAN RAIL
There are also plenty of opportunities available for less experienced engineers looking to take their first career step in the rail industry. Authorities working within the Oman National Rail Project are focusing on recruiting and training graduates for the plethora of engineering and technical positions needed. After training, the graduates will be given the opportunity to join a range of organisations on long‐term projects in various aspects of the railway project’s implementation. The Oman National Rail project will generate over 70,000 jobs, as well as creating business opportunities for young Omanis.
KUWAIT METRO
In light of Kuwait’s expected population increase and employment demand, plans for a country‐wide metro system are now moving ahead. The metro will be crucial to the nation’s development, aiming to address the growing issue of congestion and create a better environment for development within commercial, business, industrial and residential markets.
Business and employment prospects are particularly bright in UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Job prospect optimism was high last year and continues throughout 2013 in the wake of so many opportunities within rail development.
Challenges
The rail engineering talent gap continues in the Middle East and companies are finding it challenging to locate workers with the right skillset. Experienced technical workers are particularly in demand. The main markets for recruitment growth in the region are Saudi Arabia and Qatar, particularly in infrastructure.
The biggest challenge created by the huge amount of rail work planned in Qatar will be to bring enough skilled staff into the country. Nationals are also being brought in to help boost the talent pool available, whilst 140,000 out of a total of 170,000 engineers in Saudi Arabia are non‐ locals. Candidates from Europe are also becoming increasingly attracted to roles in the Middle East. Many skilled staff from Europe, and the UK in particular, are choosing to work in Saudi Arabia, as there are several benefits. These include higher salaries, the absence of personal income tax, less salary deductions and an “end of contract” bonus. Some of these benefits outweigh the disadvantage of working away from family for long periods of time.
In a recent report, the Saudi Arabian chairman of The Council of Engineers, Arch. Hamad N.A. Al‐Shagawi, noted that the shortage of skilled and experienced local engineers in the country is stifling local growth and development. In addition, Arabian MEP CEO Vasanth Kumar has stated that authorities “should consider a temporary relaxation” of visa restrictions to ensure that Qatar has enough skilled staff to complete the projects.
Engineering and project influences from the UK are being seen in the Middle East as some Network Rail standards are being integrated into their developments particularly in Saudi Arabia. The UK’s reputation for successful project delivery is highly sought‐after and, as a result, British best practices are being replicated.
Whilst governments are bringing in policies aimed at job creation, localisation, businesses are investing in staff development. If more widely available courses aimed at developing rail and engineering talent could improve, as would social mobility and localisation of staff, which could help ease the skills shortage.
TRS Staffing Solutions – Rail industry specialists
TRS Staffing Group are working with a number of government organisations as well as the leading International consultants and consortiums on the above projects to help address the skill shortages for rail staff in the region.
TRS Staffing Solutions is one of the worlds leading Recruitment Company for professional, engineering, technical and field services talent.
For nearly 30 years, TRS Staffing Solutions has been developing resources, skills and specialist expertise to benefit our clients and candidates. These essential tools are required in sourcing and retaining highly‐skilled teams for projects of all sizes, including some of the world’s most complex multi‐billion dollar mega‐projects.
At TRS Staffing Solutions, we have the scale to fulfill the most demanding client needs, as well as the local focus to identify and attract the most capable candidates for technical, professional and engineering vacancies. With our global footprint (19 Offices across 6 continents), TRS Staffing Solutions is always able to source locally, as well further a field, giving clients a cost‐effective, competitive edge.
TRS Middle East office has been established for over seven years, mainly servicing the Oil & Gas and Rail & Infrastructure sectors. As a market‐leading company, we have provided resources to some of the most iconic rail projects in the world for over 15 years.
Supporting the rail transformation and development in Qatar, we are one of only a handful of recruitment companies who are supplying directly to Qatar Rail on their $37 billion project within the areas of Project Controls, Engineering, Contracts & Procurement, Operations & Maintenance, Safety, Construction and Project Management. Due to the complexity and size of this project, internationally experienced rail professionals who have worked on multi‐billion dollar rail projects are required, TRS have shown their global reach to talent by recruiting rail professionals from the US, Canada, UK, Europe and Australia.
TRS Staffing Solutions have also been involved in the Abu Dhabi 2030 Transportation Project since 2010. Using our unique knowledge and experience, we have been the sole recruitment provider on this project from start‐up phase to the current tendering stages. The rail professionals required for this project have had to be extremely senior due to the high‐level and wide‐ranging scope of this project. In addition We are currently supplying a large number of engineering and construction personnel to the first tramway turnkey project in the Gulf Region, Al Suffouh Tram. We have successfully placed rail professionals in Rail Engineering (track, power, signalling/comms, MEP), HSE, QA/QC, Scheduling, and Construction Management positions.
TRS have also also placed multi people into Saudi Arabia. Harmain High Speed, Mecca Metro, and Saudi Landbridge being the most successful project examples where TRS have used their technical expertise, network of contacts with in rail, local knowledge and global offices to attract a no of people into KSA.
Using our specialised consultancy services and access to resources, TRS Staffing Solutions are able to provide highly targeted candidates tailored to each specific project we support.
TRS Staffing Solutions are at the heart of the Middle East rail industry. We use our global footprint, technical resources and rail expertise to help meet the challenges faced by rail companies in the region.
TRS Contact:
Nabeel Ashraf – BDM (Rail & Infrastructure - MENA Region)
T: 00971 555663667
Sources
- http://www.gulf‐times.com/qatar/178/details/353530/qatar‐rail‐project‐‐will‐need‐25,000‐‐workers‐at‐its‐peak
- http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle‐east/revealed‐stunning‐new‐images‐show‐goldplated‐ultraluxurious‐riyadh‐metro‐station‐that‐saudi‐king‐has‐ordered‐to‐be‐built‐8624048.html
- http://www.building.co.uk/news/firms‐battle‐for‐key‐role‐on‐%C2%A36bn‐jeddah‐metro‐project/5055517.article
- http://www.burohappold.com/projects/project/haramain‐high‐speed‐rail‐119/
- http://www.railstaff.co.uk/2013/04/25/the‐migration‐of‐skills/
- http://dubaimetro.eu/featured/13105/skills‐shortage‐greatest‐obstacle‐to‐dohas‐metro
- http://www.recruitment‐agency.eu/latest‐news/skills‐shortages‐middle‐east‐and‐north‐africa‐0762
- http://www.railwaypro.com/wp/?p=11953
- http://www.constructarabia.com/construction‐news/oman‐railway‐to‐generate‐over‐70000‐jobs/
- http://www.etihadrail.ae/en/about/etihadstory
- http://dubaimetro.eu/tag/abu‐dhabi‐metro
- http://dubaimetro.eu/tag/abu‐dhabi‐metro
- http://www.nortonrosefulbright.com/knowledge/publications/79933/abu‐dhabi‐metro‐and‐light‐railway‐industry‐briefing
- http://www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/news/view/costain‐seeks‐to‐boost‐middle‐east‐staff‐numbers
- http://www.internations.org/saudi‐arabia‐expats/guide/working‐in‐saudi‐arabia‐15374/saudi‐arabia‐benefits‐and‐business‐culture‐2 http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentid=20130611169382 http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013‐06‐22/news/40134537_1_job‐prospects‐job‐market‐gallup
