The estimated $1,500 million contract will involve construction of two light transit lines totalling some 70 kilometres, of which about 30 per cent will be underground. The two lines, one of which will follow the coast south to Emirates Hills and north to Sharjah, the other will link the city centre to Dubai International Airport, will be connected by an eight-kilometre circulator metro system in the central business district. The project will also involve construction of two bridges across Dubai creek. The scope of works includes tunnelling, the construction of stations, depots and line facilities, electro-mechanical works and the relocation of some public utilities. The project is expected to take 30-36 months to complete.

Dubai Municipality intends to award the package as part of a single turnkey contract, and is in the process of inviting rail system manufacturers to apply to prequalify for the equipment supply package. Only seven suppliers manufacture the fully automated driverless rail systems that will be used, and each prequalified contractor will be required to form a consortium with a shortlisted supplier. The bidding groups will also have to submit financial proposals.

Preliminary designs have been drawn up by France's Systra, which was awarded a $12.7 million design-engineering contract in March last year.