L&T Wins Order Worth Up to ₹5,000 Crore to Build the Driverless People Mover System at Dubai's Al Maktoum International Airport

Lead summary: Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has won a large order worth up to ₹5,000 crore (50 billion Indian rupees) to design and build the Automated People Mover (APM) system for Phase 1 of Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai. Working in a consortium with Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), the Indian engineering conglomerate will turnkey-deliver a fully integrated driverless transit system for the airport that, once fully developed, is set to become the world's largest, with a capacity of 260 million passengers and 12 million tonnes of freight annually.

A Large Order Announced in an Exchange Filing

L&T announced on Thursday, August 20, 2026, in an exchange filing that its transportation infrastructure business vertical had secured the order for the Dubai airport project. The vertical will undertake the design, procurement, delivery and integration of critical APM infrastructure and systems.

An Automated People Mover is a driverless transit system designed to transport passengers between terminals and other facilities within an airport.

Scope of Work Under the Design-and-Build Contract

In the consortium with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, L&T's scope of work covers the turnkey delivery of a fully integrated APM system, including construction, supply, testing, commissioning and operational readiness. Under the design-and-build contract, the company will deliver:

• guideways;
• DC traction substations and power distribution;
• signalling and telecommunications;
• onboard communication systems for vehicles;
• platform screen doors;
• depot equipment.

The project is being developed by Dubai Aviation City Corporation and implemented through Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects. L&T said the APM is a key component of the airport's long-term, multi-phase expansion programme.

Management Commentary

Ramkumar S, executive vice-president and head of Transportation Infrastructure at L&T, said the project exemplifies the scale and complexity of integrated APM rail systems that the company is "uniquely positioned to deliver".

"With MHI's proven APM Systems and L&T's extensive integrated systems experience supported by the world-class Engineering Designs Centre, enables us to execute such projects with a strong focus on safety and quality," he added.

The World's Largest Airport in the Making

"Once fully developed, Al Maktoum International Airport will become the world's largest airport, with a capacity of 260 million passengers and 12 million tonnes of freight annually," L&T said in the filing. The people mover contract is a key component of the first phase of that long-term, multi-phase expansion programme.

Track Record in Integrated Rail Systems

L&T is a provider of turnkey design-build and engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) solutions for railway and metro projects, with capabilities spanning design, engineering, procurement, project planning, quality control and execution. The company is currently executing integrated rail systems projects across the Mumbai Metro, Dhaka Metro and Jakarta MRT networks.

The Al Maktoum International Airport project further strengthens L&T's presence in the Middle East as governments across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) continue to invest in next-generation mobility infrastructure, urban transit and sustainable transportation solutions.

About the Company

Larsen & Toubro Limited (L&T) — an Indian engineering conglomerate and a provider of turnkey design-build and engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) solutions for railway and metro projects.

Contacts: the source publication does not disclose dedicated contacts for this announcement. Registered office details published on the company's official website: L&T House, N.M. Marg, Ballard Estate, Mumbai, Maharashtra — 400 001, India; phone +91 22 67525656; email infodesk@larsentoubro.com.

Website: https://www.larsentoubro.com/