Dubai's Al Maktoum Airport set for 50km driverless rail network to carry passengers around site

Dubai's Al Maktoum International Airport is set to introduce a 50km driverless rail network, connecting the sprawling airport through nine stations. The ambitious project, awarded to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Dubai and Larsen & Toubro Limited (L&T), is expected to be completed by December 2031, in time for the anticipated opening of the first phase in 2032.

MHI's executive vice president and head of transportation infrastructure, Ramkumar Sundararajan, emphasized the scale and complexity of the integrated APM Rail Systems, highlighting L&T's expertise in executing such projects with a focus on safety and quality. While the new transit system will be entirely underground, it will mirror the autonomous operation of similar people movers found in the US, such as the DFW Skylink and AirTrain JFK.

As the world's largest airport under construction, Al Maktoum International Airport is projected to handle 260 million passengers and 12 million tonnes of freight annually. The ground-breaking project will be implemented in phases, with the first phase scheduled for completion in 2032, featuring the West Terminal, the people mover, and Concourse 1, which is expected to increase the airport's capacity to 130 million passengers per year.

Eventually, four concourses will be operational, each equipped with three people-mover stops. Dubai airports chief executive Paul Griffiths highlighted the airport's connectivity, stating that Etihad Rail's high-speed rail service, set to launch in 2030, will have a station at the airport, along with Dubai Metro. This connectivity will enable travelers to seamlessly transition from the high-speed rail service to the new airport, enhancing the overall passenger experience.