FCC Construcción has won the prestigious international ENR Awards for best global railway infrastructure for its project ‘Lines 4-5-6 of the Riyadh Metro (Saudi Arabia)’. FCC Construcción received the award for the design and execution of lines 4-5-6 of the Riyadh Metro, distinguished by Engineering News-Record (ENR) in its Global Best Projects Awards 2025.

ENR's Global Best Projects Awards are one of the most prestigious awards in the international construction and engineering industry. In its thirteenth edition, a panel of experts evaluated around 90 entries from around the world, selecting 32 winning projects located in 24 countries on all continents. The rigorous selection process analyses safety, innovation, teamwork and excellence in the execution of each project.

This recognition reinforces FCC Construcción's position as a leading company in the design and construction of international infrastructure. The company ranks 27th in ENR's ‘Top 250 international contractors’.

The Riyadh Metro is the largest construction project ever undertaken by a Spanish company worldwide. It extends over 176 kilometres across a total of six lines, 85 stations and seven workshops and depots, representing one of the largest urban transport infrastructure projects ever undertaken in the world.

As a key player in the project, FCC has led the design and construction of three metro lines, with a total of 29 stations, more than 70 kilometres of track, 24 viaducts, 28 underground tracks and 13 surface tracks. As the backbone of the city's public transport system, the Riyadh Metro stands as a key milestone in Saudi Arabia's ambitious plans to improve mobility and enhance the quality of life for all. This landmark national project reflects the work of leading global design, planning and construction companies from more than 13 countries, which have joined forces to deliver integrated solutions that meet the needs of both residents and visitors.

Working closely with the local community, FCC ensured best practices in employee health and safety throughout the project. The implementation of proactive social initiatives, including the Joint Technology Transfer Programme, enabled fruitful exchanges with local universities on health and safety protocols, environmental protection and process excellence, among other topics. Through workshops, seminars and scholarship programmes aimed at Saudi university students, more than 50 students benefited from the programme over a 10-week period.

Using the latest technological advances in railway systems, FCC has successfully contributed to the design and construction of a world-class automated, driverless network in the heart of the Saudi Arabian capital, which meets the current and future needs of residents and visitors. Set to transform urban life in the capital, the Riyadh Metro will also enhance the capital's mobility ecosystem to meet current demands and future needs, generating significant economic and sustainability benefits.

Four landmark stations have been designed and built, which will serve as important hubs for the city's public transport system. The Riyadh Metro network will connect a number of strategic locations, such as King Khalid International Airport, the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD), universities and the city centre, improving access and integration with other modes of transport such as buses.

Key facts about the project

• For the construction of the green line (line 5), the FAST consortium used two 9.77-metre diameter tunnel boring machines (TBMs), which enabled the excavation of full-section tunnels, achieving world records for daily excavation progress.
• Among the three consortia (FAST, BACS and ANM) that have participated in the development of the Riyadh metro network, the FAST consortium, led by FCC, was the first to bring a 9.8-metre diameter tunnel boring machine to Riyadh. Two TBMs were used to drill 10.8 km of tunnels on the L5 San'ah and Zafrah line, and the first one passed through the Salah Al-din station on 4 October 2015, breaking speed records worldwide.
• FCC has also led the construction of the Purple Line (Line 6) viaduct and the airport area using prefabricated beams designed by the company.
• More than 12.2 kilometres of beams were installed in two spans in a record time of 1 year and 9 months, with an average construction and installation rate of 2.5 days/span.
• FCC has successfully completed the MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing) works along the Green and Purple Lines (Lines 5 and 6), with complete installation and testing of all fire extinguishing, HVAC, plumbing, fuel oil, electrical, medium and low voltage systems, as well as tunnel management. FAST was the first consortium to obtain a station occupancy permit from the GDCD (Al Yarmuk station, 6E1 - Purple Line, 20th April 2023).

Lines 4-5-6 of the Riyadh Metro exemplify FCC Construcción's commitment to innovation, excellence and the development of solutions that set new standards in the industry.