Over the past few years the world has looked on in amazement as the unprecedented amount of investment in rail projects continues to grow at astonishing rates in the Middle East. Owing to the boom in population and increased traffic on the roads, governments are recognizing the need for quality rail infrastructure as a means to stimulate and sustain the economy. It is approximated that the Gulf states will spend more than $100 billion on rail projects in the coming years. These projects include the Dubai Metro system, Abu Dhabi's Surface Transport Master Plan, Saudi's Haramain high-speed rail link (HHR), the Saudi Landbridge, Bahrain's six lane rail line and Egypt's rail upgrade program. With almost every country in the Middle East announcing plans for infrastructure investment, rail experts from across the world are fleeing to the region to ensure they are involved in these ground-breaking projects. In an exclusive forum industry experts from across the globe will gather to hear updates and share strategies on some of the worlds most talked about rail projects. Rail Infrastructure Middle East 2010, taking place on Jan. 17-20 at the Shangri La Hotel in Dubai, will provide an essential stage for municipalities, contractors and consultants. Leading speakers include Eng. Jaber Ali R. Al-Mohannadi, general manager of Qatar-Bahrain Causeway Foundation. He will be joined by experts Mahmoud Al-Khazaleh, director general, Jordan Hejaz Railway; Eng. Bassam Mansour, expert Trains and Railway Systems, National Transport Authority and many other governmental decision makers. Rail Infrastructure Middle East 2010 will act as a forum for some of the most topical issues facing the industry right now, by providing practical case studies and exclusive presentations from industry experts.
