Abu Dhabi to choose metro consultant

By Staff Writer   www.business24-7.ae

Leading companies from the US, the UK, Australia, Lebanon, France, Spain and Denmark are on a shortlist of companies competing for the role of consultant to the capital’s metro project.

The network is expected to contribute to the emirate's economic development and ease traffic congestion. (GETTY IMAGES)

The Abu Dhabi Transport Department has drawn up the list, which is being reviewed by the emirate’s Executive Council. The department will award the contract to the selected company once it receives approval from the council.

The project is part of the capital’s surface transport master plan. The network will consist of 131km of metro lines and will be divided into two sections. The first will serve Abu Dhabi International Airport, Al Raha Beach, Abu Dhabi Island, Sadyaat Island and Yas Island, and the second will serve Abu Dhabi Island, Mussaffah and the Mohammed bin Zayed suburbs.

The network is expected to contribute to the emirate’s economic development and ease traffic congestion. The Abu Dhabi Plan 2030 estimates that the city’s population will increase to around three million over the next 20 years. The project will also encourage foreign investment.

The consultant will carry out a feasibility study, provide initial and detailed designs for the network, stations, safety and security systems and electronic control systems and supervise the eventual construction of the metro.