At least 11 consultancy firms are competing for the design of the second phase of the Dubai Tram network.

It is understood that the project client, Dubai’s Roads & Transport Authority, has invited the following firms:

• Aecom (US)
• Arup (UK)
• Atkins (UK)
• CH2M (US)
• Dar al-Handasah (Lebanon)
• Egis (France)
• Mott MacDonald (UK)
• Parsons (US)
• Systra (France)
• Sener (Spain)
• WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff (Canada headquartered)

Offers are due to be submitted in late September.

The second phase of the tram network will link the depot at the end of the first phase of the existing network to the Mall of the Emirates Metro Station on Sheikh Zayed Road. The track will run through the proposed Mall of the World development that Dubai Holding plans to build.

A third phase is also planned by the RTA that will run from Mall of the Emirates along Jumeirah Beach Road to Union House at the junction of 2 December Street, which was formerly known as Al-Dhiyafa Street. The third phase could also connect to Dubai Metro at Al-Jafaliya Station in the Satwa area.

The first phase of the tram opened in 2014. It was built by a team of France’s Alstom and the local/Belgian Bel Hasa Six Construct. Systra was the consultant.

In late June, the RTA awarded the contract to design and build the AED10.6bn ($2.9bn) Route 2020 metro link connecting to the Expo site to the consortium of Spain’s Acciona, Turkey’s Gulermak, and France’s Alstom.