Al Maktoum International Airport assessing bids for Automated People Mover system
The Automated People Mover system at Al Maktoum International Airport has passed another major milestone, with the project now tendered to the market and four renowned bidders competing for the prestigious megaproject.
With a current capacity of around 26 million passengers annually, Al Maktoum International Airport (located south of Dubai) is one of the region’s largest airports. Yet its ambitions reach much higher – the airport aims to become the world’s largest airport, with a projected capacity of 260 million passengers per year.
That massive expansion will be realized through the build of new terminals, more runways, and a national strategy to turn Dubai into a global hub for travel and leading tourist destination.
Automated People Mover
A crucial part of the expansion plans is the so-called Automated People Mover (APM) project – a transport system that will connect various terminals and concourses to facilitate smooth passenger movement within the airport.
The 14-station Automated People Mover will carry travellers from terminals to concourses as well as between concourses, allowing transferring passengers to reach connecting flights through the shortest and smoothest path. This system will offer a more efficient and convenient alternative to buses for passenger transport.
When completed, the APM system will consist of two sets of counter rotating loops. The first will have a four-track loop set connecting the terminals with the concourses, while the second will be a twin two-track loop sets connecting the two sets of concourses.
The tender and bids
In July, the APM project moved into its next stage when the tender for its build was officially submitted to Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects, the government entity that oversees the design, master planning, infrastructure development, and construction of Dubai’s aviation sector, including both Al Maktoum International Airport and Dubai International Airport.
Fast forward to today, and four global engineering giants have submitted their bids for the APM project: Alstom (France), Hitachi Rail (Japan), Mitsubishi (Japan), and CRRC Corporation (China). The bids are currently being assessed by the tender team and senior management.
In addition to the APM system, several contracts are expected to be awarded or tendered by Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects this year for the $33 billion expansion of Al-Maktoum International Airport. This includes tenders for the baggage-handling system and for the new air traffic control tower.
