Domestic shield tunneling machines are making great strides towards the high-end infrastructure market in the Middle East. CRCHI has won the main share of shield tunneling machines for the Dubai section of the UAE high-speed railway, and 12 ultra large diameter equipment are about to be prepared for shipment. Chinese equipment, with its hardcore technology, competes with international manufacturers on the same stage in major overseas engineering tenders, demonstrating the strength of a major country's heavy equipment going global.

Equipment bidding landing

Recently, CRCHI announced that it has won the bid for the shield tunneling machine and ancillary equipment contract for the Dubai section of the Abu Dhabi to Dubai high-speed railway in the United Arab Emirates, occupying the main share of shield tunneling machines in the section. The total investment of this project exceeds 8 billion US dollars, with a designed speed of 350 kilometers per hour. The first phase of the line is about 150 kilometers long and is planned to be put into operation by 2030. On August 25, 2026, the company has initiated a bidding process for the transportation of 12 ZTE9820 ultra large diameter slurry balance shield tunneling machines. The equipment will be transported from Changsha to Jebel Ali Port in the United Arab Emirates. CRCHI has the ability to develop and manufacture a full range of tunnel equipment, and its domestic shield tunneling market share ranks first.

Market strength verification

This winning bid is a powerful manifestation of the recognition of domestic shield tunneling technology in the international high-end market. Enterprises can independently develop various types of excavation equipment, forming outstanding advantages in the field of ultra large diameter and complex geological construction equipment. In the first half of 2026, CRCHI's newly signed overseas winning contracts amounted to 2.085 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 13.33%. This order will further solidify its position in the overseas high-end equipment market. The construction of the UAE high-speed rail has already involved a consortium of central enterprises such as CHEC and CSCEC, highlighting the advantages of the collaborative overseas model of general contracting and equipment. Keywords: China Railway Construction Heavy Industry, UAE High Speed Rail, Domestic Shield Tunneling for Overseas Use

Expanding the overseas race track

China's high-end underground engineering equipment going global is undergoing a transformation, with competitive advantages gradually shifting from product cost-effectiveness to core technologies and complete solutions. A large number of key projects in the Middle East continue to advance, and the demand for engineering equipment is concentrated, becoming an important overseas window for domestic manufacturing enterprises. Domestic shield tunneling machines are no longer limited to simple equipment output, but are accelerating their upgrading towards technology output and complete solution supply, and continue to participate in the construction of globally iconic infrastructure projects.Editor/Min Jing