Fueled by demographic growth, urbanization and economic development, the cities of the Gulf Cooperation Council are growing at a rapid rate that is outpacing their current transport infrastructure and services. The United Nations forecasts that 88 percent of the GCC will be urbanized by 2025, compared to a world average of 57 percent. What’s more, an increase in income levels will cause demand for mobility to outpace even the region’s rapid population growth. So far, this surge in demand has been largely met by private vehicles and taxis, with public transportation accounting for less than 10 percent of all motorized trips. This approach has resulted in congestion, pollution and deteriorating road safety. It threatens to slow the growth of the region’s cities and undermine the quality of life for urban residents. To address these challenges, authorities have been making massive investments in public transportation systems; regional governments have recently announced
