Egypt’s National Authority for Tunnels (NAT) has issued a request for prequalification (RFQ) notice inviting firms to prequalify for a contract to rehabilitate and upgrade the Cairo Metro’s Line 2 network.

The notice was issued in mid-March. The prequalification submission deadline is 30 April.

According to the official notice, the scope of the works includes the design, execution, supply, installation, testing and commissioning of major system upgrades across the Cairo Metro Line 2 infrastructure and stations, along with integration into existing operational systems. The contract duration is five years.

The project is receiving a financing grant of €250m ($263m) from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), €240m ($252m) from the European Investment Bank (EIB) and €60m ($63m) from the Egyptian government.

Cairo Metro Line 2 has been operational since 1996. The line runs from Shubra El-Kheima to El-Mounib, spanning about 21.5 kilometres (km) with 20 stations.

The route includes 12 underground stations, six at-grade stations and two elevated stations. The track infrastructure is built around two primary track configurations. The line carries about 1.8 million passengers a day.

The project is part of NAT’s key planned railway projects in the country. According to NAT’s official website, eight key projects, including metro lines, high-speed rail and light rail transit, are currently in the pipeline.

According to GlobalData, the Egyptian construction industry is expected to grow by 6.4% in 2026, supported by rising foreign direct investment in the country, coupled with the government’s investment in energy and industrial construction projects.

The industry’s expansion in the forecasted period will be supported by investments outlined in Egypt’s financial year 2025-26 budget, approved in June 2025. The budget includes a total government spending of E£4.6tn ($91.3bn).

The infrastructure construction sector is expected to expand by 6.9% from 2026 to 2029, supported by investments in road, rail and port infrastructure projects.

According to MEED Projects, Egypt has been the most active market for the rail sector in the Mena region, with contracts worth over $34bn awarded in the past decade.