MHI Receives Contract for APM System at Dubai's Al Maktoum International Airport

Tokyo, August 20, 2026 - Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) has received an order for an automated people mover (APM) system(Note1) for the first phase of the development plan for the new Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). The contract from Dubai Aviation City Corporation (DACC), a Dubai government entity, was awarded to MHI as part of a three-company consortium with MHI Mobility Engineering Services L.L.C. (MHI-MESC), MHI's subsidiary in Dubai, and Indian multinational conglomerate Larsen & Toubro Limited (L&T).

The APM system to be delivered under this contract will be the world's largest, with a length of approximately 50 km connecting nine stations, an unprecedented size for an airport APM system.(Note2) MHI and MHI-MESC, as the consortium leaders, will handle the design, procurement, and testing for the 165 APM vehicles and signaling system that constitute the core of the system, as well as the overall system integration. L&T will be responsible for the design, procurement, testing, and on-site construction of other subsystems. Completion is scheduled for December 2031.

The development of Al Maktoum International Airport is a large-scale national project by the Dubai government that aims to establish one of the world's largest hub airports, with a target opening of 2032. The expectation for the future is for the airport to serve 260 million passengers annually, with plans for further gradual expansion. The APM system will connect the airport's terminals and major facilities, meeting the travel needs of the growing number of passengers. The introduction of this system will improve passenger convenience and shorten travel times, while contributing to efficient airport operations to meet future increases in aviation demand.

Previous projects in Dubai include the construction of the Dubai Metro in 2011 by a consortium led by MHI. Currently, MHI provides Operation and Maintenance (O&M) services for the Dubai Metro through its affiliate Keolis MHI Rail Management and Operation LLC.(Note3) Additionally, in 2012, MHI completed the APM system supporting passenger transport at Terminal 3 at the current Dubai International Airport, and continues to provide O&M services through MHI-MESC.(Note4) Through these projects, MHI Group continues to contribute to the operation of Dubai's transportation infrastructure.

• 1APM systems are used worldwide to connect air terminals, as transportation systems to serve areas near airports, or urban transportation.
• 2At present, the world's largest airport APM systems include Skylink at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport in the U.S., which is the longest with a route length of about 8 km, and The Plane Train at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in the U.S., which is the world's most heavily traveled, carrying around 91 million passengers annually.
• 3For more information about Keolis MHI Rail Management and Operation LLC, see the following.
  https://www.mhi.com/news/21032301.html
• 4For more information about the current O&M services contract at Dubai International Airport, see the following.
  https://www.mhi.com/news/231122.html