Serco handed five-year extension to operate Dubai Metro

Serco is to continue to operate the Dubai Metro until 2019 after being awarded a contract extension worth around £355 million.

The agreement, which was signed today (October 24) between Serco and the Dubai Government Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), will see the service company continue to run and maintain the system for another five years, with an option for a further two-year extension.

The current system consists of two lines and 29 stations.

Since its launch, the number of passenger journeys has increased from 30 million in the first year to 127 million in the last 12-month period.

Christopher Hyman, group chief executive of Serco, said it gave him and the company “great pride” to continue their partnership with Dubai.

HE Mattar Al Tayer, chairman of the board and executive director of the RTA, added: “We reaffirm RTA’s unremitting commitment to effectively contribute to boosting the profile of Dubai as a metropolis that has all the ingredients of advancement and modernity, which includes deploying state-of-the-art mass transit to make this vibrant city one of the fastest growing global cities at all fields and by all measurements.”

Serco has not only operated the Dubai Metro since it officially opened in September 2009, it also acted as a consultant during the planning of the new network.

The extension further strengthens Serco’s position in Dubai, following confirmation of an £18 million contract last month to operate the Al Sufouh Tramway.




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