Dubai: The $795 million contract won by Serco to operate Dubai Metro demonstrates the strengthening commercial ties between the UK and Dubai and the commitment by British companies to contribute to the development of the emirate, the chairman of the British Business Group (BBG) said yesterday.

Mark Beer said the deal showed the extent to which expertise developed in the UK could support the development of the emirate.

The Roads and Transport Authority has named Serco as the preferred bidder to operate and maintain the first two lines of the Dubai Metro. The contract begins this summer with a pre-launch consultancy phase and runs over 12.5 years.