The Abu Dhabi Executive Council, chaired by General Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, is reviewing the recommendations of the Abu Dhabi Transport Department “ADTD”, chaired by Abdullah Rashid Al Otaiba, Member of the Executive Council, with regards to selecting a company to be awarded the consultancy contract of Abu Dhabi metro project. The project is regarded to be one of the main transport projects in the emirate and the world over. The shortlist includes consultancy firms with international acclaim and great expertise in such mega-project from the US, UK, Australia, Lebanon, France, Spain, and Denmark. The department will grant the contract to the selected company once it gets the approval of the Executive Council. 
The project is a part of the UAE capital's Surface Transport Master Plan (STMP), a major initiative taken by the department to develop a comprehensive plan for transport in the city and included in the “Abu Dhabi Plan 2030” and its is aimed at serving the ever-increasing population of the city and its suburbs. The network comprises 131-kilometer metro lines and divided into two parts, the first one will serve Abu Dhabi International Airport, Al Raha Beach, Abu Dhabi Island, Sadyaat Island and Yas Island. The second part will serve Abu Dhabi Island, Mussaffah and Mohammed bin Zayed suburbs.
The network is expected to contribute to the emirate’s economic development and ease traffic congestion, as the “Abu Dhabi Plan 2030” estimates the city’s population will increase to around 3 million people by the year 2030. The project will also encourage the flow of foreign investments and reduce the impacts of such big number of population on the environment.
According to the contract, the consultant will carry out feasibility study, the initial and detailed designs of the network, stations, safety and security systems, electronic control systems and finally supervision of the eventual construction of the metro.
The department has earlier issued standards for the designs of the metro wagons, railways and stations that confirm to the emirate’s distinctive Arab and Islamic traditions and heritage and would have minimum environmental footprints.
© 2009 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
