At least four groups have been prequalified for the contract. They include: France's Alstom with Belgium's Bel Hasa Six Construct; Japan's Marubeni Corporation with Italy's Ansaldo Trasporti; Japan's Mitsubishi Corporation with the local ETA Ascon; and Germany's Siemens with the local Al-Habtoor Engineering Enterprises and Australia's Gulf Leighton. The first phase is expected to open in September 2009, the same month as the first phase of the Dubai Metro scheme is scheduled to begin operations. France's Systra is the consultant (MEED 7:9:07).