Dubai Metro Green Line Commences Operation

To celebrate the launch of the Green Line, a ceremony hosted by His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority, took place on September 9. Distinguished guests from the UAE included His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and numerous governmental officials. Attendees from Japan included: Tadashi Nagashima, General Manager of MHI's Transportation System & Advanced Technology Division; Shigeaki Yoshikawa, Senior Vice President of MC; and Kotaro Nonaka, Executive Officer of Obayashi.

The Dubai Metro is the world's longest driverless rail system, with a total length of approximately 75 kilometers. It consists of the Red Line, the focus of Phase I construction, which runs between Dubai International Airport and Jebel Ali, a new area under development along the coast, and the newly inaugurated Green Line. The network will substantially ease Dubai's traffic congestion stemming from rapid population growth.

The five-partner Japanese-Turkish consortium has supplied the rail system and performed related civil and construction work since the start of Phase I construction work in August 2005. MHI and MC supplied the complete rail system, including rolling stock, automatic train control system, power supply system and rail tracks; and Obayashi, Kajima and Yapi Merkezi together constructed the tunnels, station buildings and substructures for elevated rail tracks. The consortium completed the six-year construction project as contracted, enabling revenue service to begin on schedule.

Many other transportation infrastructure projects are currently being planned in the Middle East region, including rail projects in Qatar, Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia. Leveraging the completion of the Dubai Metro Red and Green Lines, going forward MHI now intends to proactively seek involvement in these other projects in the region.