Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) has been contracted to supply an automated people mover (APM) system for the first phase of the development of Dubai’s Al Maktoum International Airport.
The contract was awarded by Dubai Aviation City Corporation (DACC), a Dubai government entity, to a consortium comprising MHI, its Dubai-based subsidiary MHI Mobility Engineering Services (MHI-MESC), and Indian engineering and construction company Larsen & Toubro (L&T).
The planned APM system will extend for approximately 50km and connect nine stations across the airport. According to MHI, the system will comprise 165 vehicles and is intended to support the future expansion of Al Maktoum International Airport.
MHI and MHI-MESC will lead the consortium and will be responsible for the design, procurement and testing of the APM vehicles and signalling system, as well as overall system integration. L&T will undertake the design, procurement, testing and on-site construction of the remaining subsystems.
Completion of the project is scheduled for December 2031.
The APM system forms part of Dubai’s wider plans to develop Al Maktoum International Airport, which is expected to open in 2032. The airport development plan ultimately envisages capacity for up to 260 million passengers annually, with further expansion planned over time.
The system will connect terminals and other major airport facilities and is intended to support passenger movements as the airport expands.
MHI has previously worked on transport infrastructure projects in Dubai. A consortium led by the company completed the construction of the Dubai Metro in 2011, while an MHI affiliate currently provides operation and maintenance services for the network.
The company also completed an APM system at Terminal 3 of Dubai International Airport in 2012 and continues to provide operation and maintenance services for that system through MHI-MESC.
