The official start of construction on Dubai’s new 30km long Blue metro line took place this week with a groundbreaking ceremony at one of the future stations on the line.
Dubai’s ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum on Monday 9 June attended the foundation stone laying ceremony of the Blue line that will span 30km across the United Arab Emirates city. It will run underground for 15.5km and above ground for 14.5km.
Comprising 14 stations, the new line is set to transform mobility across nine key districts of Dubai. It will include nine elevated stations and five underground stations.
The Dubai government’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) are delivering the line. It is expected to be constructed at a cost of AED18bn (£3.6bn), according to reporting by MEED.
The RTA in January this year awarded a AED20.5bn (£4.2bn) contract to build the Blue metro line to a Turkish-Chinese consortium comprising civil works contractors Mapa and Limak with railway systems supplier CRRC.
Upon the completion of the Blue line, Dubai’s total railway network will extend from 101km to 131km.
During the foundation stone laying ceremony this week at the future Emaar Properties station, the Sheikh revealed the design of station. When completed, it will be the highest metro station in the world, at 74m above ground level.
Covering an area of approximately 11,000m2, the station is designed to accommodate up to 160,000 passengers per day, with the number of daily users expected to exceed 70,000 by 2040.
The Blue line represents the fifth strategic public transport project in the city, after the Dubai Metro’s existing red and green lines, the Dubai Tram and the Dubai Metro Route 2020. It is one of the largest upcoming strategic transport projects in the city.
The Blue line will connect Dubai International Airport and nine key areas along the line, namely Mirdif, Al Warqa, International City 1 and 2, Dubai Silicon Oasis, Academic City, Ras Al Khor Industrial Area, Dubai Creek Harbour and Dubai Festival City.
It will comprise two main routes. The first runs from Creek Interchange Station on the Green line, located in Al Jaddaf, passing through Dubai Festival City, Dubai Creek Harbour, and Ras Al Khor, before reaching International City 1, which includes an underground interchange station.
The route continues towards International City 2 and 3, extending to Dubai Silicon Oasis and up to Academic City. This section spans 21km and connects 10 stations.
Sheikh Mohammed approved the project in November 2023. He said at the time that investments in infrastructure projects align with Dubai’s strategy for city development. It will help to meet the demands of an increasing city population.
