RTA issues tender for $4.9 billion Dubai Metro Blue Line: MEED

Dubai’s Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) has taken a significant step towards the realization of the Blue Line extension for the Dubai Metro by issuing tender documents for the design and construction contract, as reported by MEED.

Prequalified consortiums, comprising major global players, were notified on January 12 regarding the opportunity to bid for this transformative project. The six consortia include:

1. Hyundai Rotem, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, Nippon (South Korea/China/Japan)
2. China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation, Limak Holding, Mapa Group (China/Turkey/Turkey)
3. Siemens, Samsung, Larsen & Toubro, Wade Adams (Germany/South Korea/India/UAE)
4. Alstom, FCC, China State Construction Engineering Corporation (France/Spain/China)
5. CAF, China Tiesiju Civil Engineering Group, Arab Contractors (Spain/China/Egypt)
6. Hitachi, WeBuild (Japan/Italy)

The RTA had previously invited Expressions of Interest (EOI) from contractors in October 2023, setting the stage for this major infrastructure development.

Announced in November 2023, the Blue Line extension carries a total cost of 18 billion UAE dirhams ($4.9 billion). According to a statement by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the 30-kilometer Blue Line will traverse both underground and elevated sections, reaching depths of up to 70 meters. The line is expected to accommodate 320,000 passengers daily, serving key areas including Dubai Creek Harbour, Dubai Festival City, International City, Al Rashidiya, Al Warqa, Mirdif, Dubai Silicon Oasis, and Dubai Academic City.

The proposed timeline for the project, outlined by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, indicates a project award in 2024, tunnel construction commencing in 2025, trial operations starting in 2028, and full commercial operations scheduled for 2029.

The Blue Line is envisioned to feature 14 stations and 28 trains, with a combination of elevated and underground stations. It is designed to handle an estimated 56,000 passengers per hour in both directions, with a service interval of approximately 1.5 minutes.

Aligned with the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, which aims to create a ’20-minute city,’ the Blue Line extension is a crucial component of fostering a Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) approach. This approach aims to ensure that more than 80 percent of essential services are within a 20-minute travel time for residents, enhancing accessibility and connectivity in the dynamic city of Dubai.