Invensys Rail, a division of British engineering firm Invensys Plc, which is targeting US$30 billion worth of potential business for rail control and communication systems in the Middle East and North Africa, is in talks with transport officials in key Gulf cities including Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Sir Graham Boyce, Chairman of Invensys Rail's Middle East Advisory Board, said the company is looking for talks with potential project developers.

The company estimates there could be about US$600 billion worth of projects across the Middle East and North Africa in the next decade.

Control systems, signals and communication equipment account for about five percent of a rail project's value.

A consortium led by Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is building a AED15.5-billion urban rail network. Dubai plans to expand it further with new investment of billions of dirhams. The Abu Dhabi government is also working on a master plan for a transportation system. Saudi Arabia is planning a big rail project to connect the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah.

Invensys is also eyeing potential projects in Kuwait and Egypt.