Dubai Metro  

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 for some stations with the remainder opening in 2010, and for the Dubai Metro Green Line is March ... June ... October ... November 2010 ... August 2011 ... 10 September 2011.

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 (resulting in lots of tourist photos of visitors at the front of the train going "Wheeeeeeeeeee!").

Dubai Metro operating times

Order a taxi from Dubai Metro

• In May 2012 the Dubai RTA announced a service for Dubai Metro passengers ordering a taxi by SMS (Hailing of Taxis by SMS service). Only for Etisalat mobile phones at time of announcement, not Du (start date not supplied for Du phones).
• Type R or G for Red or Green line, followed by station number (no spaces), followed by letter of station exit (no spaces), e.g. G12A, and send SMS to 4774. You should receive a text message reply confirming taxi availability.

Dubai Metro stations renamed - 12 November 2012 (RTA announcement)

• Jebel Ali Industrial station renamed as Danube station (on the Red Line)
• Khalid Bin Al Waleed station renamed as Burjuman station (intersection of Red and Green Lines).

Dubai Metro length and train frequency update March 2011

• Total operating length of the Red Line extended by 9 km to 53 km when Jebel Ali Station opens on 11 March 2011 (RTA press release 05 March 2011).
• 27 trains operating during morning peak hours, and 29 trains during evening peak hours.
• Interval between trains 6-8 minutes during AM rush hour, and 5-6 minutes during PM rush hour.

Dubai Metro Red Line stations opening in late 2010

• The Dubai RTA said all Red Line stations would be open by end 2010 (or possibly October 2010). But then, they've also said in the past that all Red Line stations would be open on 09 September 2009 (they weren't), and that the Green Line would be running by March 2010 (it wasn't).
• Some stations are rumoured to be opening on 15 October 2010 - Business Bay, First Gulf Bank, DG Sharaf, Jumeirah Lae Towers, and Nakheel (31 August 2010). But don't hold your breath ... Update 07 October 2010 - apparently they will open on 15 October 2010 according to the RTA.
• ... The National reports on 31 August 2010 that Ramadan Mohammed, Director of Rail Operations at the RTA said "We will open some stations by the end of the year, in the fourth quarter, ... Some stations we may keep closed longer. All eight will not be opened at the same time," making it sound like some stations won't open at all in 2010.

Dubai Metro operating times (announced by the RTA 30 August 2009)

• Dubai Metro operating times to be extended from Friday 16 October 2010 when 5 new Red Line stations open (Thursday to 2400 instead of 2300, Friday from 1300 instead of 1400).
• Frequency of trains is every 6 minutes during peak hours (1600-2400), and every 8 minutes during off-peak times (0600-1600).
• Stopping time in stations is 20 seconds after 16 October 2010 (reduced from 30 seconds).
• Operating times might be extended after all Red Line metro stations are open, according to reports in May 2010 after several stations were opened ... but don't hold your breath.
• Note that the finish time is when the last train stops and parks itself for the night, not the start of the final run. Assume start time of last train is about 1 hour before and work your way forward from that depending on where you want to catch it.
• New Years Eve operating times extended to 0300 on 01 January 2011 (night of 31 December 2010).

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? Update: As of 05 May 2010 it was reported that the RTA is now allowing passengers to take one medium sized bag and one small piece of luggage on the metro.
• 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). Update April 2010 - at last the music has been turned off. Hopefully the RTA has got the message and doesn't replace it with something else.
• 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. Update April 2010 - waiting times are expected to decrease after new stations are opened.

Dubai Metro check in kiosks for Dubai Airport flights

• Emirates Airlines have self-check in kiosks at some Dubai Metro stations - Mall of the Emirates, Burj Khalifa (The Dubai Mall), and Financial Center (02 AUgust 2010 press release).
• Passengers can choose seats and print out a boarding pass at least 2 hours before departure time.
• To use the kiosk, passengers need their reservation code, ticket number, or Skywards membership number.
• Passengers still need to lug their own bags to the airport though. Those with bags for check-in can go to the Baggage Drop counters, those with hand luggage only can go straight to the immigration desk at the departure terminal.

Dubai Metro limits on luggage - May 2010

• Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) luggage and baggae regulations for the Dubai Metro limit travellers to 2 bags.
• First piece size limitations are 81cm width, 58cm height, 30cm depth
• Second piece maximum dimensions are 55cm width, 38cm height 20cm depth

Dubai Metro Stations open on the Red Line

• 12 December 2012 - Danube station on the red line opened (WAM).
• 11 March 2011 - Jebel Ali Station scheduled to open (RTA announcement 05 March 2011).
• 30 April 2010 - seven new stations open on the Red Line, another three are due to open on 15 May 2010, and the remainder between then and the end of 2010 or possibly before October 2010.
• 20 February 2010 press release - the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced new opening dates of April 2010 for the remaining Red Line stations, and August 2011 for the Green Line: "Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of Roads & Transport Authority (RTA), announced that the Contractor of Dubai Metro Project; Dubai Rail Link (DURL) Consortium; is set to complete all the remaining works in the stations on the Red Line (18 stations) on 25 April 2010, and that all works in the stations on the Green Line will be completed in August 2011." Which seems to confirm the January 2010 "inaccurate media reports" of delayed progress, which the RTA "was surprised with" at the time.
• 09 January 2010 (RTA official blog): The RTA was surprised at "some media channels circulating inaccurate reports about the project" referring to reported construction delays. The RTA blog said "The Dubai Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) confirms that Dubai Rail Link (DURL) Consortium is continuing with the construction works of Dubai Metro Project according to the planned schedule, and work is progressing normally at various sites in both the Red & Green Lines to finalize the remaining works of the project"
• 15 December 2009: The RTA said they might open the Burj Dubai metro station on the same day as the Burj Dubai tower opens - 04 January 2009. The RTA Communication Director, Peyman Younes Parham, said "We are thinking about it but it is a complicated process to put just one extra station on the 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 (which makes it the last carriage in the opposite direction, and cattle class will get the view out the front).
• 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

• 17 April 2010 press release - a total of 13.68 million passengers have used the metro from 09 Sep 2009 to end March 2010, and daily passenger number is 80,000 travellers. Total number of riders expected to reach 35 million by end of 2010.
• 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.
• Union Station on the Red and Green lines is apparently the largest underground metro/subway station in the world, with an area of 25,000 sq meters.

Passenger numbers on the Dubai Metro

• Daily average of about 149,000 passengers according to 05 March 2011 RTA press release. Figures from RTA Statistics Office.

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 2009-2011), 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.
• Gulf News reported on 17 May 2009 that People commuting by the Dubai Metro will be allowed to park their cars for free, according to information from the Roads and Transport Authority Dubai (RTA), but the free car parking would only be at Dubai Metro Rashidiya, Al Qusais, and Jumeirah Island stations. Gulf News did not include the name of the RTA official from whom they obtained the information, or quote him/her.

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

• 25 December 2012 - Dubai Mall metro station link to the Dubai Mall opened. Length is 820m, is an enclosed airconditioned walkway with 10 travelators. Capacity 13,500 persons per hour. Takes about 15-20 mins walking time.
• 12 December 2012 - Danube station on the Red Line opened.
• 03 January 2012 - Emaar Malls announced that an airconditioned glass tunnel walkway would be built from the Dubai Mall metro station to The Dubai Mall. Completion planned for sometime in 2013.
• Q4 August 2011 - Dubai Metro Green Line expected to open (originally scheduled for March 2010). Further delay in 10 April 2011 news.
• 15 March 2011 - discounted Blue Nol Cards can be applied for at metro and bus stations, or online at www.nol.ae (RTA announcement 28 February 2011).
• 10 February 2011 - RTA announced discounted Dubai metro tickets for senior citizens, students, and special needs travellers. Only a year and a half later than planned.
• 01 August 2010 - Green Line track complete, testing starts (GN 02 August 2010).
• 01 July 2010 - record number of 130,529 passengers used the Dubai Metro in one day (GN 02 Aug 2010).
• 19 June 2010 - Green Line stations almost all structurally complete, interior finishing a bit over halfway complete. Al Qusais Park-and-Ride facility 75% complete (RTA press release).
• 15 May 2010 - 3 more stations due to open on the Red Line - GGICO, Dubai World Trade Center, and Al Quoz
• 30 April 2010 - another 7 metro stations open on the Red Line - Ibn Battuta Mall, Dubai Marina, Dubai Internet City (TECOM), Emirates Towers, Al Karama, Dubai Airport Terminal 1, and Emirates Airlines HQ.
• 25 April 2010 - Emirates, Airport Terminal 1, GGICO, Al Karama, World Trade Center, Dubai Marina, and Ibn Battuta stations scheduled to open with the remainder opening later in 2010. Update: new station openings delayed until 30 April and 15 May 2010.
• 04 January 2010 - Burj Dubai (Burj Khalifa) station opened.
• 09 September 2009 at 9pm - opening ceremony at Mall of the Emirates station on the Dubai Metro Red Line. Public operation started on 10 September 2009 with 10 stations open and the other 19 delayed until February 2010 or later.
• May 2009 (or earlier) - Dubai Metro Purple Line plans put on hold.
• 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.
• March 2008 - first Dubai Metro train delivery expected in Dubai
• March 2008 - trial runs begin on the Red Line near Jebel Ali (originally scheduled for November 2008).
• 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.
• 21 March 2006 - Dubai Metro Project officially announced and inaugurated, with completion scheduled for April 2010 (bothe Red and Green lines).
• 01 November 2005 - Roads and Transport Authority Dubai (RTA) created by the Dubai Government.
• 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)?
• October 2004 - tender for Dubai Metro launched
• 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).
• 2002-2004 - more detailed engineering and technical design specifications determined, tender documentation for Design and Build contract prepared (study PS007).
• 2000-2002 - planning study (PS002 - Dubai Transit Options) resulted in initial designs for a main rail corridor and a Central Business District route.
• 1997-2000 - feasibility study (R1700 or R700) concluded that a rapid transit metro system would be needed in Dubai.

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 (Al 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

• Noor Islamic Bank was granted naming rights to Al Quoz station for 10 years according to an RTA press release 12 May 2010, bringing the total number of stations with naming rights to 21?
• Before the Dubai Metro started operating, 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 (reduced to 1 after the Burjuman Center withdrew), 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).

Dubai Metro Eid and National Day 2009 operating times (announced by RTA 25 November 2009)

Dubai Metro operating hours for Eid Al Adha and UAE National Day holiday period (from Thursday 26 November to Friday 04 December 2009) were announced as 0630 to 0030 (half past midnight) including Fri 27 Nov but from 1400-0030 on Fri 04 Dec 2009. The RTA will monitor passenger traffic with a view to possibly extending Dubai Metro hours slightly, according to Peyham Younes Parham when talking on Dubai Eye radio on Wed 25 Nov 2009.

Last update Monday 21-Jan-2013

Related pages

• Abu Dhabi Metro - should be up and running a few years after the Dubai Metro starts
• Al Sufuoh Tram - under construction, eventually will (or might) connect to the Red Line of the Dubai Metro
• Dubai Metro shuttle bus routes - list of bus routes feeding into Dubai Metro stations
• Dubai Metro Nol cards - details of tickets and fares
• Dubai Metro Green Line
• Dubai Metro Red Line
• Dubai Metro - forum topic, ask questions and/or add your comments about the new metro
• Palm Jumeirah monorail - started operating 30 April 2009
• RTA Dubai - government authority in charge of the Dubai metro

Related websites (new window)

• www.nol.ae - official Dubai Metro information from the RTA
• Dubai Metro websites - list of some websites about the Dubai Metro
• Dubai directory - add your link free

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