Dubaiuncovered

The Dubai Metro extension project, known as the 30km Blue Line, was officially announced by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) on Friday. This extension aims to cut travel time and connect major neighborhoods with growth areas in Dubai by 2029. One distinctive feature of the Blue Line will be the breathtaking views commuters can enjoy while traveling across the city, including a 1,300-meter viaduct that will span across the historic Dubai Creek.

This extension project is a part of the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, and serves as a key integration point between the existing Red and Green Lines. The Blue Line is a major step towards the goal of creating a ’20-minute city’, where 80 per cent of essential services are within a 20-minute journey time. The line will cover nine key areas and connect them with Dubai’s five urban centers.

According to Mattar Al Tayer, RTA director-general, the Blue Line will provide direct benefits to approximately one million individuals living in the areas it covers. The line will have 14 stations in total, with a combination of underground and elevated stations. The cost of the project will be approximately Dh18 billion, expanding Dubai’s railway network to 131 km and encompassing 78 stations and 168 trains.

Passenger capacity is estimated at 56,000 passengers per hour in both directions, with the anticipated capacity for university students from Academic City set at 50,000 by 2029. Trials for the operation are expected to begin in 2028, with the official rollout scheduled for 2029, the 20th anniversary of the Dubai Metro.

Contracts for the project will soon be open for tender by November 24, and tunnel boring will commence in 2025. The Blue Line is expected to contribute to time and fuel savings, reduced accident-related fatalities and lower carbon emissions. Additionally, facilitated mobility is anticipated to appreciate real estate property along the Blue Line route by up to 25 per cent while decreasing traffic congestion on serviced routes by 20 per cent.