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Saturday 21 November 2009 (UAE)   
 
   
      
 

Dubai Metro Mass Transit public transport system

Dubai Metro information

The Dubai Metro (previously known as the Dubai Light Rail Transport DLRT or Metro Dubai project) is Dubai's version of the London Underground, New York Subway, Vienna U-Bahn, Munich S-Bahn, or various other mass-transit system. The metro operates both above ground and below ground with RTA feeder buses ferrying passengers to metro stations to provide a cheap and efficient public transport system for Dubai residents and visitors. Launch date of the Dubai Metro Red Line is 09 September 2009, and for the Dubai Metro Green Line is expected to be June or October 2010. The Dubai Metro is the first public transportation system of this type in the UAE and the Middle East. Sort of. The Jumeirah Palm Island monorail was the first to start operating in May 2009 (and Emirates Airlines reportedly has a monorail shifting food around in their catering facility). One major feature of the Dubai Metro is that the trains will be driverless (possibly resulting in lots of tourist photos of visitors at the front of the train going "Wheeeeeeeeeee!").

Dubai Metro operating times (announced by the RTA 30 August 2009)
  Saturday-Thursday Friday
During Ramadan 0600-2400 (6am-midnight) 1400-2400 (2pm-midnight)
Rest of the year 0600-2300 (6am-11pm) 1400-2400 (2pm-midnight)
Dubai Metro highlights
  • How quiet, smooth, clean, and quick the trains are.
  • Shopping link at Mall of the Emirates station. Ok it's only a bunch of shops but it's just so much nicer than anywhere on the Circle Line.
  • Those wacky chandeliers at Khaled Bin Waleed station (previously called the BurJuman station).
  • The water theme at Khaled Bin Waleed station. You'd almost believe you really were underwater.
  • Dubai Metro history and displays at Union Square station.
  • Dubai Metro Lego model at Rashidiya station.
  • Walking out of an underground station to see a Dubai traffic jam that you're not part of - from Khalid Bin Walid, Union Square, Al Riga, or Deira City Centre stations.
  • Looking out the windows at the front or rear of the train (there's no pesky driver to get in your way).
Dubai Metro lowlights and whines
  • Pedestrian bridges over the Sheikh Zayed Road are closed when the metro trains stop running despite the RTA saying they would stay open.
  • The trains don't start operating until 2pm on Fridays. What on earth made the timekeepers at the RTA think all Dubai residents slumbered until mid-afternoon?
  • Last train is at 11pm during the week. Good grief. And with no sensible explanation from the RTA it's no wonder that Dubai residents believe the rumour that the early closing was implemented for the benefit of taxi drivers.
  • No heavy baggage on the Metro. Are you kidding? Do RTA employees never travel? What on earth did they put not one, but two Metro Stations at Dubai Airport for?
  • Only 4 sets of ticket gates at Mall of the Emirates station. No wonder it gets so choked up. Even the RTA says it's the busiest station.
  • The music. We thought it was something special for the first day. Please, please, please turn it off, we've had enough now. Or put CNN on the TV screens (but with the sound off).
  • The long wait before the doors close. Although if it's deliberate as a kind of running in period while people get used to the metro, we can understand that.
Dubai Metro Stations open on the Red Line

14 November 2009: An RTA press release announced that the "RTA is all set to phase out the opening of the stations in February 2010," referring to the remaining 19 Red Line metro stations not yet open, indicating that none of the additional stations would be open before February 2010 as previously indicated.

03 September 2009: Xpress4me, a Dubai weekly newspaper, had a story that the 09-09-09 opening date of the Dubai Metro would be for VIP guests only, and the ordinary plebs would not be allowed to use it until the next day. The first 09-09-09 trip would be sometime between 1430 and 1600, and run from Mall of the Emirates station to Nakheel Harbour & Tower station and then to Rashidiya station. The report didn't say if the trains would be pushed by workers or operate under its own steam. Follow up reports in other press then said the first trip would be 9pm on 09-09-09 from MOTE to Rashidiya, updated to 7:45 pm according to reports on 08 September 2009.

30 August 2009: The Dubai RTA has announced that 10 stations will be open on the first day of Dubai Metro operations, 09 September 2009. The stations are Al Rashidiyah, Dubai Airport Terminal Three, Deira City Center, Al Rigga, Union Square, Khalid Bin Waleed (ex-Burjuman), Al Jafliya, Dubai Financial Centre, Mall of the Emirates, and Nakheel Harbour and Tower. The remainder will open at different times between September 2009 and February 2010 according to the RTA.

The Dubai Metro Red Line will have 29 stations when fully operational. However, the expected number of Dubai Metro stations opening on 09 September 2009 opening date is 9, 10, 17, 22, or 29 depending on whether you believe RTA statements, unnamed sources reported in the media, or anonymous blogs. As the opening date approached, it was clear to anyone driving past the Dubai Metro stations under construction that either the RTA had a good deal more optimism than most people or they had found a way to increase the number of hours in the day to 40 or 50.

  • 26 August 2009 - "Only nine or 10 stations will open in the first phase," - according to a "person familiar with the project" said Maktoob Business, apparently referring to the anonymous blogger from a few weeks earlier.
  • 26 August 2009 - "This includes the 9 stations to be delivered for 999," - an internal contractor email referring to request for a permit to allow an exemption from the midday work ban that applies in Dubai during July and August, according to an Arabian Business report.
  • 09 August 2009 - "All the stations are not yet ready but we hope to open 17 to 22 stations out of the total 29," - an unnamed RTA official according to a Gulf News report.
  • July/August 2009 - 9 or 10 stations according to an unknown blogger/forum poster (s/he supplied a list of which stations).
  • 27 July 2009 - "It is almost certain that the metro will be open with only a few stations in operation in the first phase," - Jose Paul of the consulting firm Frost & Sullivan according to Arabian Business.
  • 27 July 2009 - "We announced before that we are opening all stations and there is nothing beyond that at this point in time," - an anonymous RTA spokesperson according to Arabian Business.
  • June 2009 - "There would be no point in opening a station where there are no buildings finished," - Mattar Al Tayer, the head of the RTA, according to various reports in response to implications that some stations might not open on time, after the announcement of Dubai Metro fares.
My City, My Metro

My City, My Metro is the RTA marketing campaign leading up to the start of the first Dubai Metro public journeys, and into 2010. The My City, My Metro campaign was launched in June 2009 and will consist of 3 phases lasting 1 year. Saatchi & Saatchi were awarded the marketing contract for the Dubai Metro.

  • My City My Metro phase I (June 2009): general information about design and operation of the Dubai Metro.
  • My City My Metro phase II (August 2009): more specific information about Dubai Metro fares, timings, security, and use of the transport system.
  • My City My Metro phase III:
Dubai Metro lines in operation or under development
  • Dubai Metro Red Line runs from Rashidiya to Jebel Ali, past Dubai Airport (stations at both T1 and T3), to Union Square interchange in Deira, under Dubai Creek to the Burjuman Center in Bur Dubai, then along Sheikh Zayed road above ground. First date of public operation 09 September 2009 (09-09-09). Total of 29 stations.
  • Dubai Metro Green Line runs from Al Ghusais in Deira to Al Ras then under Dubai Creek to the Burjuman Center and continues above ground through Dubai Healthcare City to Al Jadaf. Total of 18 stations.
  • Dubai Metro Purple Line (52 km) - an express service along Al Khail Road connecting Dubai International Airport and Al Maktoum International Airport in Jebel Ali. Planned completion by 2012 (October 2006 information). Update August 2009: under review due to economic and financial crisis. Dubai Airport has reportedly proposed an alternative to the purple line of a central rail terminal with lines branching out to airports and other destinations. Update 09 September 2009: delayed due to economic crisis according to comments by Mattar Al Tayer, the RTA head, at the launch of the Dubai Metro Red Line.
  • Dubai Metro Blue Line - along Emirates Road, also connecting Dubai and Jebel Ali Airports. In planning stages (October 2006 information). Update 09 September 2009: delayed due to economic crisis according to comments by Mattar Al Tayer, the RTA head, at the launch of the Dubai Metro Red Line.
Dubai Metro lines unconfirmed, proposed, suspended, abandoned or made up
  • Dubai Metro Black Line - also from the MEED report 31 August 2008: "the Black line, will connect the trunk of Palm Deira with the Union Square station in the Deira area of the city."
  • Dubai Metro Magenta Line - a proposed tram system for the Palm Deira (maybe): "The proposed tram system, the Magenta line, will only serve Palm Deira, connecting the main islands of the project." according to MEED 31 August 2008.
  • Dubai Metro Orange Line - part of Dubailand, under consideration according to a 30 June 2006 report in MEED ("an orange line serving Dubailand;"). But then MEED said in a 31 August 2008 "The other metro route, the Orange line, will run in a loop across several of Palm Deira's islands and link to the Abu Heil and Ghubeibah stations on the Green line."
  • Dubai Metro Pink Line - reported in Xpress 08 October 2009 as part of the planned Jumeirah Gardens development by Meraas. Expected to run through Jumeirah / Al Satwa / Al Wasl / Al Safa and parallel to Sheikh Zayed Road. The RTA apparently knew nothing about it.
  • Dubai Metro Yellow Line - along Al Qudra Road in Dubailand for the Bawadi development, under consideration according to a MEED report 30 June 2006 ("a yellow line running along Al-Qudra road serving the Bawadi development"). Another news item April 2008 (source unknown - Dubai RTA?) indicated the Yellow Line would be developed and operated by a consortium including Alstom and Serco. Or the Yellow Line might refer to the Jumeirah Palm monorail.
Dubai Metro operating information
  • Dubai Metro hours of operation 0500-0030 (5am to 12:30am) daily (see table at top of page). Some sources say operating times will be 0600-2400 (6am to midnight).
  • Dubai Metro trains top speed 90 km/hr or 110 km/hr (conflicting information seen), average journey speed will be about 40-50 km/hr, not 110 kph as seen in some sources. Information applies to Red and Green lines, other lines might be faster - up to 160 kph for the Purple Line for example.
  • Wifi wireless internet access expected to be available en route and in metro stations.
  • Standard Dubai Metro ticket prices for adults range from AED 2.00 for a short journey to AED 6.50 for a long journey. Less than half price for registered students and senior citizens monthly passholders, double price for Gold Class tickets (for those who want to sit at the front). Discounted tickets if bought in advance, or for one day.
  • Separate carriages available for women and children with extra space for bags and prams, and for VIP Gold Class travellers.
  • Gold Class carriages will have carpet and leather seats, and a nice view out of the front of the train - the first carriage in each train will be Gold Class.
  • Special Needs passengers will be catered for with wheelchair access and reserved spaces for wheelchairs.
  • Priority seating available for elderly, injured, special needs, and pregnant passengers.
  • Dubai Metro operating contract awarded to Serco UK for 10 years, worth about AED 3 billion (US$820m). Serco will maintain trains, tracks, stations, central control, and provide staff. Serco run trains, hospitals, prisons, and more in the UK. Serco was also awarded a 10 year contract to operate air traffic control systems for Dubai airports, reportedly (FT 14 June 2009).
  • Number of passengers using the Dubai Metro expected to be about 40,000-50,000 per minute during peak hours in 2010 (assuming both Red and Green lines are fully operational), and 100,000-120,000 per minute by 2020 (probably assuming at least Red, Green, Blue, and Purple lines operational, and perhaps some of the other colors). Forecasts based on 2006 reports.
Other Dubai Metro numbers and information
  • Total number of trains expected to be 131, total distance covered by Red, Green, Blue, and Purple lines expected to be 70km (probably to be reviewed). Further plans for additional lines expected total distance to increase to 318 km by 2020 with about 1.8 million passengers per day travelling on the network.
  • Dubai Metro trains constructed in Japan.
  • Project managers for architectural, civil, and structural design is Atkins Middle East.
  • Design consultant for Red and Green line stations and control centers is Aedas Architects.
Dubai Metro Nol cards, tickets and fares

Dubai Metro tickets - more information and table of Dubai Metro fares and Nol card details.

  • Passengers on the Dubai Metro will use "Nol" cards (pronounced to rhyme with mole, not spelt out as n-o-l), which will come in 4 different colors. Nol means "fare" or "transport cost" in Farsi and/or Arabic. Nol card sales started on 20 August 2009 with the Silver Cards being the first available, from RTA service centers, and Dubai Bus stations.
  • Standard single ride ticket prices range from AED 2 to AED 6.50, making the Dubai Metro one of the cheaper subway / mass transit systems around. Even cheaper tickets available for students and the elderly, 30 day passes also available, and more expensive VIP tickets for distinguished travellers.
Dubai Metro wireless broadband internet network
  • Wireless internet access available in Dubai Metro trains and stations, operated by Du Telecom of Dubai.
  • WiFi access was free initially, but became fee-paying in October 2009.
  • WiMax network upgrade provided by Nomad Digital, a UK based mobile services provider specialising in the transport sector (26 October 2009 reports).
  • Dubai Metro trains run along a corridor of wireless coverage supplied by WiMAX radios located along the metro routes.
Dubai Metro Feeder Lines

In 2005 and 2006 there were reports of several proposed monorail feeder lines to connect various areas and developments with the Dubai Metro. Possible and proposed locations for the additional light rail systems included Al Sufouh, Business Bay, City of Arabia, DIFC, Downtown Burj Dubai, Dubai Festival City, Dubai Waterfront, Dubailand, Palm Deira, Palm Jebel Ali, Palm Jumeirah. Apart from the Palm Jumeirah feeder line, which isn't connected to the Dubai Metro anyway, and the Al Sufouh Tram (under construction in 2009-2010), the others have faded away (as has progress on most of those developments in 2009). However there will be feeder bus services through the more populated areas of Dubai linking with the nearest Dubai Metro station.

Shops and retail facilities in Dubai Metro stations

Dubai Metro stations will each have from 2 to 12 retail outlets (see pages about each of the Dubai Metro lines for a table with numbers of shops at each station) including a convenience store in each station.

  • There are 52 convenience store contracts available, one for each station on the Red and Green lines. Total number of stations is 47 so some stations will have two stores? In August 2009, the RTA announced that eating and drinking would not be permitted on Dubai Metro trains, partly contributing to the decision by Last Minute to pull out (Arabian Business 27 August 2009).
  • Total of about 100 shops on each of the Red and Green lines.
  • Shop sizes range from 10 square meters to 600 sq meters.
  • 24 Seven (abandoned bid July 2009) - was bidding on 20 stores.
  • ENOC Zoom convenience stores - 18 outlets to open on the red line, 10 on the green line. On 09-09-09 two shops open at Rashidiya station, one at Mall of the Emirates station. Open 0700-1200.
  • EPPCO - some of the Last Minute outlets?
  • Last Minute - had contracted to operate 28 stores, cancelled Red Line deal for 18 stores 27 August 2009. Might still open 10 stores on the Green Line.
  • Rami Deli - first one open at Khalid Bin Waleed station, 10 stores planned for Red Line.
  • Starbucks - 6 outlets?
List of Dubai Metro stations with shops
  • Nakheel Harbour and Tower
  • Mall of the Emirates station - Zoom convenience store
  • Mall of the Emirates metro link walkway has Better Life, Borders Express, Cold Stone Creamery (but no ice creams on the metro trains sorry), ECity, EMax, Home Sweet Home, IDdesign furniture, Jacky's Electronics, Nokia, Paperchase (stationery), UAExchange.
  • Financial Center station - Chiquita fruit juice bar
  • Jafiliya
  • Khaleed Bin Waleed station (ex-Burjuman station) - Ramee Deli, Zoom convenience store.
  • Union Square - Asia Exchange Center, Internet Heroes Express, Metro Community Pharmacy, Waxy's Cafe
  • Al Rigga
  • Deira City Center
  • Dubai Airport Terminal 3
  • Rashidiya - Zoom convenience store
Metro Park n Ride facilities
  • A few stations on the red and green lines will have large car park facilities. So far they will be Rashidiya Stationa, and Nakheel Harbour and Tower Station on the Red Line (about 3000 car parks each), and Etisalat Station on the Green Line (6000 car parks).
  • Car parking might be available to varying degrees at other metro stations (good luck trying to find anything at Union Square or Baniyas Station though).
  • Park n Ride carparks free to public transport users.
  • Carpark charges AED 10 per hour or AED 50 per day for those not using public transport.
Dubai Metro Tunnel Boring Machines (TBM)
  • Al Bugeisha / AlBugeisha (TBM1), assembled in Japan, arrival in Dubai November 2006, tunnel boring start January 2007 from Union Square to Burjaman for the Red Line.
  • Al Wugeisha 2 TBM2 - Union Square to Al Rigga, Al Rigga to Deira City Center
  • AlWugeisha 3 (TBM3) on the Green Line, arrived September 2007, tunnelboring from Al Ras to Burjaman, Union Square to Salahuddin, Palm Deira to Al Ras.
Dubai Metro History and Timeline
  • 1997-2000 - feasibility study (R1700 or R700) concluded that a rapid transit metro system would be needed in Dubai.
  • 2000-2002 - planning study (PS002 - Dubai Transit Options) resulted in initial designs for a main rail corridor and a Central Business District route.
  • 2002-2004 - more detailed engineering and technical design specifications determined, tender documentation for Design and Build contract prepared (study PS007).
  • February 2004 - Dubai Metro is a go. Dubai Rail Project (DRP) estimated construction cost AED 14.3 billion, length 69.2 km (50 km red line, 19.2 km green line), transfer stations at Al Ittihad Mall and Bur Juman Center, total trains 99, each train 5 carriages and 400 passengers, trains to have separate women and children section, and first class section, capacity 27,000 passengers per month on the red line, 18,000 on the green line. Estimated operating cost of AED 570 million per year to be met from fares and advertising revenue. General Co-ordinator of the DRP is Nasser Ahmed Saeed (International Rail Journal 18 March 2004).
  • October 2004 - tender for Dubai Metro launched
  • July 2005 - Design and Build contract awarded to Dubai Rail Link (DURL), a consortium including Kajima Corporation, Mitsubishi Corporation (consortium head), Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Obayashi Corporation (all from Japan), and Yapi Markezi of Turkey. Also referred to as the Japanese-Turkish Metro Joint Venture (JTMJV)?
  • 01 November 2005 - Roads and Transport Authority Dubai (RTA) created by the Dubai Government.
  • 21 March 2006 - Dubai Metro Project officially announced and inaugurated, with completion scheduled for April 2010 (bothe Red and Green lines).
  • 30 October 2007 - Purple and Blue metro lines announced at a MEED railway conference by Abdul Redha Abu Al Hassan, the Director of Planning at the RTA.
  • March 2008 - trial runs begin on the Red Line near Jebel Ali (originally scheduled for November 2008).
  • March 2008 - first Dubai Metro train delivery expected in Dubai
  • February 2009 - RTA commences new Integrated Rail Master Plan study to look at a revision of the Dubai Metro rail network. Study being carried out by Parsons Brinckerhoff with completion expected in 2010.
  • May 2009 (or earlier) - Dubai Metro Purple Line plans put on hold.
Dubai Metro Themes
  • Each Dubai Metro station design on the Red and Green lines will be based on one of 4 themes - Air (11 stations), Earth (12 stations), Fire (11 stations), or Water (13 stations). See lists of stations for theme for each station.
  • Dubai Metro train interiors will be based on a Water and Air theme.
  • The outer shell appearance of the metro stations is not supposed to remind you of beetles (as it might appear from above), but reflects the pearl-diving history of Dubai.
Dubai Metro Cost
  • Initial projected cost of the Dubai Metro was about AED 14 billion, then AED 15.5 billion (US$4.22 bn) in 2005 for the Red and Green lines.
  • Projected cost had increased to AED 27.9 billion (US$7.6 bn) for the Red and Green lines according to the RTA on 30 August 2009, due to track extensions, additional stations, an additional depot, and design revisions.
Dubai Metro revenues and profit
  • Given the cheap Dubai Metro fares announced, it seems unlikely that the train system will be a profitable venture, but that wasn't the motivation behind the metro project anyway.
  • Revenues of AED 17 billion ($4.6 billion) expected in the 10 years from 2009-2019 according to an Emirates Business report 08 September 2009.
  • The above figure includes AED 1.8 billion from the Dubai Metro naming rights.
  • The Red and Green lines cost more than that in construction costs, so without adding on operating costs, there's already a shortfall of more than AED 1 billion per year (AED 1000 million!). The RTA gets its fair share of bad press (sometimes deserved) but the next time someone whines about them only interested in making a profit (from Salik for example), that's a figure worth tossing into the conversation.
  • Additional benefits of the Dubai Metro in economic terms could be several billion dirhams also. The DIFC chief economist, Nasser Saidi, on 07 September 2009 put a number of AED 17-28 billion as the possible increase in productivity from 2009-2014 due to the Dubai Metro. So if the RTA got hold of that on top of the ticket revenues, they might break even after all.
Dubai Metro depots
  • Etisalat (A Qusais) - main depot on the Green Line
  • Rashidiya - main depot on the Red Line
  • Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZ) - auxiliary depot on the Red Line
Dubai Metro public transport connections
  • Most Dubai Metro stations will have buses and taxis waiting outside.
  • Some stations, for example Al Ghubaiba Station on the Green Line, are located at Dubai Bus Terminals.
  • Water Bus access will be available at stations close to Dubai Creek.
  • Dubai Metro tickets will be unified, meaning they will be valid on other public transport services in Dubai as part of the same journey without extra charge, except for single ticket purchase bought with the Nol Red Card.
Dubai Metro naming rights
  • The RTA sold naming rights to 23 stations on the Dubai Metro Network: 11 on the Red Line, 7 on the Green Line, the 2 transfer stations, and 3 elsewhere for extensions or other lines (numbers based on RTA branding map).
  • Naming rights were sold for a total of AED 1.8 billion according to comments from the RTA boss published in Emirates Business 24/7 on 08 September 2009
  • Companies were able to bid for the right to rename the station and have corporate branding put in place, hence the result that Al Ghusais Station was renamed as Etisalat Station for example. More details of which stations were renamed on separate information pages for each line.
  • There were restrictions (no individual branding, no companies involved with pork, alcohol, or other products and services against Islamic culture).
  • The naming rights are valid for a limited time - 10 years?
Dubai Metro miscellaneous facts and numbers
  • Dubai Metro Red Line completed in just over 4 years (49 months) (Mattar Al Tayer in Emirates Business 24-7 on 08 September 2009)
  • 154 contracting companies employed in the construction of the Red Line (MAT-EB-08-09-09)
  • 30,000 workers employed in construction of Red and Green lines (MAT-EB-08-09-09)
  • 3 million passengers (approx) used the Dubai Metro in the first 2 months of operation (10 September to 09 November 2009)
  • 57,000 trips per day on average in first 2 months of operation
  • 1.2 million Nol cards sold including 900,000 Silver Nol cards up to 09 November 2009 (RTA comments reported by Emirates Business 24-7 on 09 November 2009)
Last update Sunday 15-Nov-2009
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