The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has officially signed the AED 10.6bn ($2.8bn) contract to extend the metro to the site of Expo 2020.
Expolink, a consortium of Alstom of France, Spains Acciona and Turkeys Gulermack, was awarded the deal in July.
The project covers the extension of the Red Line of Dubai Metro 15 km from Nakheel Harbour & Tower Station to the site of Expo 2020, as well as the supply of 50 trains.
The project encompasses seven stations including a transfer station with the Red Line, Expo Station, three elevated stations, and two underground stations.
Alstom will supply the trains – 15 of them for serving Expo, and 35 for upgrading the service of the Dubai Metro and carry out electromechanical works. Acciona and Gulermack will cater to civil works, and the French Thales Group will attend to the technological systems.
The contract was signed on behalf of the RTA by HE Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors.
The construction works in the project have immediately started after laying the foundation stone last September, Al Tayer said. The Consortium is currently undertaking soil analysis, and sourcing of NOCs. Drilling works for laying pillars will commence before the end of this year.
The test run of the newly extended line is anticipated to start in the final quarter of 2019, and the official service is scheduled for launch during the first quarter of 2020 namely on 20 May 2020 i.e. five months before the opening of Expo 2020, he added.