A consortium of Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) has secured the contract to design and construct the 50km-long automated people mover (APM) system for the first phase of Dubai’s Al Maktoum International Airport in the United Arab Emirates.
The project forms part of the strategic airport expansion overseen by the Dubai Aviation City Corporation and Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects.
Planned as a fully integrated transit network, the APM system will link nine stations across the airport site.
Under the agreement, the scope of work for the L&T-MHI consortium covers the turnkey delivery of the APM system, including design, construction, supply, testing, commissioning, and operational readiness for all supporting infrastructure and systems.
MHI and its subsidiary MHI-MESC will lead on the design, procurement and testing for 165 APM vehicles and the core signalling system, as well as heading the overall system integration.
L&T will be responsible for the guideways, DC traction substations, power distribution, signalling, telecommunications, onboard communication, platform screen doors, and depot equipment.
According to MHI, the APM system will connect terminals and major airport facilities, aiming to support rising passenger volumes and streamline terminal transfers.
Scheduled for completion in December 2031, the infrastructure is expected to shorten travel times within the airport and improve the overall efficiency of operations.
This project is a key part of the airport’s long-term development, which aims to make Al Maktoum International Airport the world's largest by passenger and freight capacity.
The completed airport is projected to handle up to 260 million passengers and 12 million tonnes of freight a year, with the first phase targeted to be ready for operations by 2032.
L&T executive vice-president and transportation infrastructure head Ramkumar S said: “With challenging execution milestones, advanced technologies and multiple system interfaces, including guideway, power supply, state-of-the-art telecom, platform screen doors and depot equipment, this project exemplifies the scale and complexity of integrated APM rail systems that L&T is uniquely positioned to deliver.
“With MHI’s proven APM systems and L&T’s extensive integrated systems experience supported by world-class engineering designs centre, enables us to execute such projects with a strong focus on safety and quality.”
