Atkins, one of the world's leading design, engineering and project management consultancies, has won the lead designer contract for the Doha Metro Gold Line in Qatar.

Atkins has been appointed by the consortium of contractors which is delivering the Gold Line on behalf of Qatar Railways Company, comprising Greek contractor Aktor, Yapi Merkezi and STFA from Turkey, India's Larsen & Toubro and the local Qatari company Al Jaber Engineering, said a company statement to the London Stock Exchange.

The line involves construction of a 32km tunnel with six boring machines and delivery of 13 underground stations.

The total capital cost of the project is more than £2.5 billion and the company's design role is worth around £80 million to the group over the next couple of years, it said.

"The Middle East has enjoyed a strong start to the new financial year as we continue to deliver work on a number of significant metro projects and benefit from increased activity in the property market," it said.

Atkins employs some 17,500 people across the UK, North America, Middle East, Asia Pacific and Europe. - TradeArabia News Service