Ashurst advises Serco on Al Sufouh tram

Ashurst advised Serco the UK FTSE 250 company on the negotiations for the contract for the operation of the Al Sufouh Tram project in Dubai, which Serco entered into on the 14 September 2013 with the Road and Transport Authority of Dubai (the "RTA"). The contract has an initial pre-launch period of 15 months followed by an operation period of 5 years and is worth £18 million. The award of the tram operating contract to Serco follows Sercos successful operation of the Dubai metro for the past 5 years, a project upon which Ashurst also advised Serco. 

The Al Sufouh Tram, which is scheduled to be in revenue operational service by late November 2014, will be the region's first tramway project powered by a ground-based electric supply system. The Ashurst team was led by the managing partner of Dubai, Joss Dare, with support from senior associate Yvonne Cross and assisted by associates Jennifer Moore and Jennifer Riddle from the Dubai and Abu Dhabi offices.