Lowest bidder unveiled for construction of $4.9 billion Dubai Metro Blue Line

The bidding process for the Blue Line has been marked by fluctuations in pricing, with contractors responding to requests from the Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) to submit revised offers to reduce costs. The latest offers, submitted on December 3, reflect a shift from the previous round of bids, which took place on November 21.

In the updated bids, the second-lowest offer came from a consortium that includes China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) and France's Alstom, priced at AED 21.6 billion. Close behind is a team comprising India’s Larsen & Toubro (L&T), China’s Powerchina, the local Wade Adams, and Hitachi, with a bid of AED 21.7 billion.

These revised bids follow an initial round of updates from November 14, when the Limak/Mapa/CRRC consortium submitted a bid of AED 21.7 billion, which was the lowest at that time. In the previous round on November 21, the China State/Alstom team had emerged as the lowest bidder with an offer of AED 19.8 billion, followed by the L&T consortium at AED 20.3 billion.

The Dubai Metro Blue Line is set to connect the existing Red and Green metro lines, creating an additional 30-kilometer (km) stretch. The line will feature 14 stations, with seven elevated and five underground stations, including key interchange stations at Centrepoint and Creek.

The Blue Line will be a vital addition to Dubai’s public transport network, serving major areas such as Festival City, International City, Rashidiya, Mirdif, Silicon Oasis, and Academic City. The project aims to handle 320,000 passengers a day and cater to a population of around 1 million people in these neighborhoods.

The scope of the contract will involve extensive civil works, electromechanical systems, and the supply of 28 driverless trains. Additionally, the winning contractor will be responsible for constructing a depot that can accommodate up to 60 trains, along with necessary roadworks, facilities, and utility diversion projects.

Once completed, the Blue Line project will be expected to offer enhanced connectivity across the city, reducing traffic congestion and providing a more sustainable and efficient mode of transportation for daily commuters. The contractor selected will also provide maintenance and operational assistance for an initial three-year period after project completion.

The Blue Line extension project, which was approved by UAE Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, last year, will play a pivotal role in expanding Dubai's metro network. The line is expected to significantly improve public transportation services in the city, supporting the growth of urban areas and easing the commute for thousands of residents.

In a post on social media network X (formerly Twitter), Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum shared that the total cost of the Blue Line project is estimated at AED 18 billion ($4.9 billion), with half of the 30 km stretch being underground. Once operational, the line will become a crucial part of Dubai's public transport infrastructure, offering seamless connections and reducing travel times for commuters across the city.

With the revised bids now in place, the RTA is expected to finalize the selection of the contractor in the coming months, with the construction of the Blue Line expected to commence shortly thereafter.