A consortium led by French and Japanese companies won a Dh542 million ($147.5m) per annum contract to operate and maintain the Dubai Metro and Tram.
The contract was awarded to Keolis, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Engineering and Mitsubishi Corporation. It is valid for nine base years and can be renewed for six more.
The consortium will operate and maintain the Metro’s Red and Green lines and Route 2020, according to Mattar Al Tayer, director general and chairman of the board of executive directors of the Roads and Transport Authority.
Route 2020, an extension of the Red line, connects the public transport system to the Expo 2020 site. It starts at the Jebel Ali station, which was previously known as Nakheel Harbour and Tower.
The deal includes the emirate’s tram network, including trains, control centres, stations and other infrastructure.
“The contract also covers the operation and maintenance of the automated metro and fare systems, including the selling and recharging of Nol cards at the metro stations,” said Mr Al Tayer.
The Nol top-up card can be used to pay for Metro, tram, bus, taxi and water taxi services in the emirate.
The French and Japanese companies will be responsible for the provision of passenger transport services.
They will also hire Emiratis to fill senior, technical and administrative positions.
The authority plans to equip the local population with skills required by the rail industry, which is fairly new to the region.
“During the preparatory period, the consortium shall be in full co-ordination with the current operator to take over the tasks and ensure high safety levels for network users,” said Mr Al Tayer.
The metro was operated by Serco since it began operations in 2007.
New Metro stations in Dubai
It opened four new stations along Route 2020 earlier this year: Jebel Ali, The Gardens, Discovery Gardens and Al Furjan.
Three more stations – Jumeirah Golf Estates, Dubai Investments Park and 2020 Expo – are scheduled to open later this year.
The new 15-kilometre section will allow trains to carry tens of thousands of visitors to the Expo site when the event begins in October 2021.
The world fair was originally scheduled to be held in October 2020 but was postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
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