Gravy Train

Rail and metro projects throughout the GCC represent tens of billions in investment.

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The launch of the Dubai Metro’s Green Line network in September was heralded with great fanfare and pomp, with the Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, taking a tour of the facilities and railway line before its opening to the public.

While the Green Line represents a great step forwards in Dubai’s vision of a completely integrated public transport system, its launch has far greater resonance across the industry.

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By successfully operating at full capacity and optimum efficiency, it has indicated to the other members of the GCC that a rail based public transportation system is a viable solution to their needs.

The new metro had barely got running before news started rolling in about other rail projects being approved by their respective governments. Saudi Arabia, already with its Makkah to Medina line running successfully, has given the green light to the Saudi leg of the GCC railway project. A Jeddah based light rail transit programme worth $6bn is also in the works.

Qatar has launched its National Rail Scheme, a $25bn rail project that will connect the tiny Gulf state with its GCC neighbours via the Bahrain causeway and another proposed bridge with the UAE.

The scheme will encompass a range of transport modes, including metro systems, long distance travel and freight transport. It will also connect with Saudi Arabia via Qatar’s land link with the Kingdom.

While these projects undoubtedly represent a great step forwards in the development of trade and tourism ties between the countries, the MEP industry in the region stands to benefit the most, with all rail facilities, from the track, to stations and maintenance depots all requiring large MEP involvement.

Ben James, associate director of MEP Qatar, Hyder Consulting, said that this affords local MEP companies an excellent opportunity to take advantage of the situation and build on their expertise in working in the region.

“This is an exciting time for the MEP industry as a whole. The ability of both the MEP consultants and contractors to reinforce and leverage their technical excellence regionally with international expertise will also impact the amount of opportunity that can be developed from the current capabilities, with the intent to integrate international experience with local knowledge to create competencies in rail,” he explained.

While there are a number of challenges facing the MEP industry, S.S Murali, the general manager of the MEP division of Al Futtaim Engineering said that he believed that success of the Dubai Metro showed that there was MEP talent available in the industry to handle these complex projects.