Dubai Metro

The Dubai Metro (Arabic: مترو دبي) is a rapid transit system in the city of Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The metro system consists of a network of two main lines: the Red Line and the Green Line. A third line, the Blue Line, is scheduled to open in 2029.

Dubai Metro was the first rapid transit train network in the Arabian Peninsula and the Gulf Cooperation Council. It began operations on 9 September 2009. The metro runs underground in the city centre and on elevated viaducts elsewhere. All trains are fully automated and driverless. Both the trains and stations are temperature controlled and have platform edge doors. Dubai Metro has a total length of 89.6 kilometres (56 mi) and 55 stations, 35 on the Red Line and 15 on the Green Line.

From 2009 to 2016, Dubai Metro was the world's longest driverless metro network with a route length of 75 kilometres (47 mi), as recognized by Guinness World Records in 2012. The system was surpassed by the Vancouver SkyTrain in 2016 for the longest fully automated system in the world but regained the title in 2021 with the opening of Route 2020 until December 2024 when it was surpassed by the opening of Riyadh Metro.

In 1997, Dubai Municipality studies on urban development identified the need for a rail system to relieve growing traffic levels and to support the urban development in Dubai. Planning of the Dubai Metro began under the directive of Dubai's Ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in 2003. Dubai expected to attract 15 million visitors by 2010. The combination of a rapidly growing population, which was expected to reach 3 million by 2017, and severe traffic congestion necessitated the building of an urban rail system to provide additional public transportation capacity, relieve motor traffic, and provide infrastructure for additional development. In 2004, five consortia were shortlisted to build the first section.

In May 2005, a AED 12.45 billion ($3.4 billion) design and build contract was awarded to the Dubai Rail Link (DURL) consortium made up of Japanese companies including Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Mitsubishi Corporation, Obayashi Corporation, Kajima Corporation and Turkish firm Yapı Merkezi, The Project Management and Construction Management services contract was awarded to a French-American joint venture between Systra and Parsons Corporation. The first phase worth AED 15.5 billion ($4.2 billion) covers 35 kilometres (22 mi) of the proposed network, including the Red Line between Al Rashidiya and the Jebel Ali Free Zone

Work officially commenced on the construction of the metro on 21 March 2006. In February 2009, an RTA Rail Agency official stated the US$4.2 billion Dubai Metro project would be completed on schedule despite the 2008 financial crisis. 10 out of 29 metro stations of the Red Line opened on 9 September 2009.

The Red Line was partially opened at 9 minutes and 9 seconds past 9 pm on 9 September 2009 (9/9/9 9:09:09 PM), inaugurated by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. More than 110,000 people, nearly 10 percent of Dubai's population at the time, used the Metro in its first two days of operation. The Line opened to the public at 6 am (UTC 04:00) on 10 September 2009. The Dubai Metro carried 10 million passengers from launch on 9 September 2009 to 9 February 2010 with 11 stations operational on the Red Line.

Seven more stations on the Red Line opened on 30 April 2010: Emirates, Airport Terminal 1, Al Karama (now ADCB),Emirates Towers, Dubai Internet City, Dubai Marina (now Sobha Realty), and Ibn Battuta. Ten new trains were pressed into service, giving a total of 22 trains in service when the stations opened. In addition to this, a further three stations were opened on 15 May 2010; Al Garhoud Station and World Trade Centre Station. Furthermore, Business Bay, equiti, InsuranceMarket (Al Barsha) Station, Al Fardan Exchange, and DMCC were opened on 15 October 2010. The Life Pharmacy Station and the terminus of the Red Line was opened on 11 March 2011. The Danube was opened on 12 December 2012. Al Jadaf Station and Creek Station, on the Green Line were opened on 1 March 2014.