The government of Dubai has commenced construction on the 30km Dubai Metro Blue Line, a major infrastructure project that is set to expand the city’s rail network to 131km by 2040. HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, laid the foundation stone during a formal ceremony attended by Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) officials and project stakeholders.
The Blue Line will comprise 14 stations, including five underground and nine elevated, as well as three interchange stations that connect to the Red and Green Metro lines. The project is expected to serve nine key districts projected to house over one million residents, aligned with the goals of the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan.
The line will run between Creek Station on the Green Line and Centrepoint Station on the Red Line, connecting areas such as Dubai Festival City, Ras Al Khor, International City, Dubai Silicon Oasis, Academic City, Mirdif, and Al Warqa. It will include a 1,300-metre viaduct crossing Dubai Creek and a new depot at Al Ruwayyah 3.
One of the key features of the project is the Emaar Properties Station, which, at 74 metres, will be the tallest metro station in the world. Designed by architecture firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, the station will span 11,000 square metres and accommodate up to 160,000 passengers per day. Naming rights for the station have been awarded to Emaar for 10 years starting in 2029.
Upon completion, the Blue Line will bring the total number of Dubai Metro and Tram stations to 78 and increase the train fleet to 168 units. The line is expected to transport 200,000 passengers daily by 2030, rising to 320,000 by 2040. Infrastructure will include integrated transport options such as bus bays, taxi stands, bike racks, and electric scooter stations.
Since its launch on September 9, 2009, the Dubai Metro has recorded 2.527 billion cumulative trips. Daily ridership exceeded 900,000 in 2024. RTA forecasts the annual number of metro users will reach 320 million by 2031. The Blue Line is expected to reduce traffic congestion by 20% along its routes and increase surrounding property values by up to 25%.
Economic studies conducted by RTA project the Blue Line will deliver AED 56.5 billion in economic and environmental benefits by 2040. The line is the first in Dubai to comply with green building standards fully and has achieved Platinum Category certification.
The project is part of Dubai’s fifth major strategic transit initiative and supports the city’s Economic Agenda D33 and “20-minute city” goal, which aims to ensure 80% of essential services are accessible within a 20-minute commute.
The Metro Blue Line will connect directly to Dubai International Airport, providing access to key commercial, residential, and academic zones with travel times ranging between 10 and 25 minutes.
