The Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects (DAEP) is currently reviewing offers for the baggage handling system contract at Al-Maktoum International airport.

The DAEP received the offers in December last year, a source familiar with the transaction tells MEED.

Selecting a baggage handling system contractor is the next milestone in the procurement process, the DAEP said in a recent statement.

The award and involvement of a specialised vendor at this stage of the project development is key to the optimisation of the design, DAEP said, citing that the system is one of the most complex elements of the airport upgrade.

The DAEP has signed several packages for the $33bn upgrade of Al-Maktoum International, with several major tenders expected this year.

The most recent contracts awarded include:

• Construction of aprons adjacent to the passenger terminal building: National Wheel J&P; $163m
• Enabling works: Tristar (local)
• Infrastructure package: Lane (US) / National Contracting & Transportation Company (NCTC) (local); $125m

Future tenders include contracts for the automated people mover (APM) system and substructure packages. Budget for the substructure packages is estimated to fetch up to AED10bn inclusive of foundations and basement civil works.