Dubai Unveils Mega-Transit Blueprint: MHI-Led Consortium Bags Contract for World’s Largest Airport People Mover

DUBAI — In a landmark milestone for global aviation infrastructure, a consortium led by Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) and Indian engineering titan Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has officially secured a high-profile contract to design and construct the world’s largest 

Automated People Mover (APM) system.

The massive transit project is a core pillar of Dubai’s multi-phase expansion of Al Maktoum International Airport, which is slated to become the largest aviation facility on the globe.

A 50-Kilometer Transit Lifeline

Spanning approximately 50 kilometers across nine stations, the fully integrated, driverless rail network will seamlessly connect terminals, concourses, and core facilities to streamline passenger movement.

 * The Scope: The turnkey contract covers comprehensive civil works, guideways, DC traction power substations, state-of-the-art telecommunications, signaling, and platform screen doors.

 * The Technology: MHI, alongside its Dubai-based subsidiary MHI Mobility Engineering Services (MHI-MESC), will spearhead the manufacturing and testing of 165 specialized APM vehicles and core signaling systems.

 * Timeline: Project execution is already underway, with full system completion and operational readiness scheduled for December 2031.

Powering the 260-Million Passenger Vision

Developed by Dubai Aviation City Corporation through Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects, the Al Maktoum expansion aims to radically scale the hub's capacity. Once fully realized, the mega-airport will be capable of handling an astonishing 260 million passengers and 12 million tonnes of freight annually.

Industry analysts note that securing the transit system contract further cements the MHI-L&T partnership's dominant footprint in the Middle East's high-value infrastructure sector, providing a vital technological backbone to match Dubai's soaring long-term aviation ambitions.