{
  "id": 2387851,
  "title": "Dubai's Al Maktoum Airport set for 50km driverless rail network to carry passengers around site",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/21/dubais-al-maktoum-airport-set-for-50km-driverless-rail-network-to-2387851",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-21T13:24:50.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National Business",
    "slug": "the-national-business",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/uae/2026/08/21/dubais-al-maktoum-airport-set-for-50km-driverless-rail-network-to-carry-passengers/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Dubai's Al Maktoum International Airport is set to be connected by a 50km driverless rail network, marking the world's largest automated people mover. The ambitious project, contracted to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), its Dubai subsidiary, and Indian conglomerate Larsen & Toubro Limited (L&T), is expected to be completed by December 2031, with the first phase opening in 2032. The transit system will consist of nine stations, with a potential expansion to 14 stations in the future. Ramkumar Sundararajan, executive vice president and head of transportation infrastructure at L&T, highlighted the challenge and complexity of the project, emphasizing the company's expertise in delivering such large-scale integrated rail systems. The new people mover will operate underground within the airport premises, surpassing the current largest automated people movers in the US. Dubai's Al Maktoum International Airport, capable of handling 260 million passengers and 12 million tonnes of freight annually, is projected to become the world's biggest airport. The Airport Express Link and Etihad Rail's high-speed rail service will also connect to the airport, enhancing connectivity for travelers.",
  "summary": "The world's largest automated people mover is coming to Dubai's mega-airport, Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC). The planned 50km line will connect the airport via nine stations, transporting passengers across the vast site. The project contract was recently awarded by Dubai Aviation City Corporation to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), its Dubai subsidiary, and Indian multinational…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}