“Dubai Roads” awards the contract for the “Blue Line” project to a Turkish-Chinese alliance at a cost of 20.5 billion dirhams

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has awarded the contract for the Dubai Metro Blue Line project, with a length of 30 kilometers and a total of 14 stations, to a consortium of three Turkish and Chinese companies: Mapa, Limak, and C. R. R. C, at a cost of 20 billion and 500 million dirhams.

This was announced by His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority, during the press conference held at The One and Only Zabeel Hotel, in the presence of the heads of the MABA, Limak and CCI alliance companies. R. R. C: Mehmet Nazif Gunal, Chairman of the Board of Directors of MABA, Nihat Ozdemir, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Limak Holding, Liu Gang, Chairman of the Board of Directors of YRC, Abdul Mohsen Ibrahim Yunus Kalbat, Executive Director of the Railways Corporation, and Ahmed Al-Kaabi, Executive Director of the Finance Department, and Saeed Al Marri, Director of the Contracts and Procurement Department at the Roads and Transport Authority in Dubai.

Al Tayer said: “The implementation of the Dubai Metro Blue Line project comes as a translation of the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, may God protect him, to enhance investment in infrastructure development, as it is the primary engine for the comprehensive development of the Emirate of Dubai.” And the follow-up of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, Chairman of the Executive Council of the Emirate of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy To the Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, it also comes as a culmination of the great success achieved by the Dubai Metro, since its opening on 9/9/2009, as it has become the backbone of the transportation system in Dubai, and the first choice for the transportation of residents and visitors, transporting more than 850,000 passengers. Daily, it has transported approximately 2.5 billion passengers since its opening in September 2009, and accounts for about 60% of the total number of public transportation users.

His Excellency stressed that the new line contributes to achieving the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, and the goals of the Dubai Urban Plan 2040, in making Dubai the best city for living in the world, by providing sustainable and flexible mass transportation options that contribute to facilitating the movement of residents and visitors, improving the quality of life, and enhancing Dubai’s competitiveness. To be an attractive center for global events, and to enhance the concepts of the Dubai Urban Plan, such as the twenty-minute city, by providing more than 80% of services to the population within twenty minutes of transportation, and achieving development directed by mass transit (TOD). The implementation of the Blue Line confirms Dubai’s continuity in implementing infrastructure projects to meet the requirements of population and urban growth, enhance integration between various means of public transportation, and serve the city of the future.

Global tender

Al Tayer added: “The alliance implementing the Blue Line project was selected through a global tender in which five alliances participated, including 15 international companies specialized in the field of implementing infrastructure and metro systems from various countries of the world. They submitted their technical and financial offers, and three alliances qualified for the final stage. After the tender evaluation process, the project contract was awarded to the alliance (MAPA, Limak, and CRRC), led by the Turkish MABA company, noting that MABA and Limak They will undertake the civil works, and C.R.C. will carry out the systems works.

Connecting metro lines

His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer explained during his speech at the press conference that the Blue Line of the Dubai Metro is 30 kilometers long, of which 15.5 kilometers are underground and 14.5 kilometers are above ground level. It includes 14 stations and includes three transitional stations, which are Al Khor on the Green Line. , and Center Point on the Red Line, and International City (1), and an iconic station with a distinctive architectural character will be implemented in the Dubai Creek Harbor area, and the Blue Line is the first Dubai Metro crossing to pass over Dubai Creek, through a bridge with a length of 1,300 metres, indicating that the new line achieves connectivity and integration between the red and green lines of the Dubai Metro, as it extends in two directions, the first from the Creek Transit Station on the green line, in the Al Jadaf area, passing through Dubai Festival City, and the area. Dubai Creek Marina, Ras Al Khor area, and from there to Dubai International City (1), which includes a transfer station, and continues towards International City (2) and (3), then to Dubai Silicon Oasis, Reaching Academic City. The length of this section is 21 kilometers and includes 10 stations, while the second direction of the Blue Line extends from the Center Point transition station on the Red Line in the Rashidiya area, passing through the Mirdif and Al Warqa areas, arriving at the transition station in International City (1), and its length is 9 km long, and includes four stations. The project also includes the construction of a train garage in the Third Roya area.

Economic return

His Excellency the Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority stressed that investment in infrastructure is the main engine for the growth of the economy of any city in the world, and that the economic, social and environmental benefits of the Dubai Metro Blue Line project are expected to reach (2.60 dirhams for every dirham of costs). ) Year 2040: The value of the total benefits of the project is expected to reach more than 56.5 billion dirhams until 2040, as a result of the size of the savings in time and fuel and the reduction in the death rate. accidents, and reducing the rate of carbon emissions, as the Blue Line is expected to contribute to reducing traffic congestion on the road axes it serves by 20%, and increasing the value of land and real estate around the project stations by up to 25%, as well as providing direct connectivity between Dubai International Airport and the vital areas located Along the line, with a journey time ranging between 10 and 25 minutes, as well as linking the fifth urban centre, which is the Dubai Silicon Oasis Centre, thus all urban centers in Dubai will be linked by metro lines, and the Blue Line will be the first project. Transport that conforms to green building specifications (platinum category).

The iconic station

He said: “The Blue Line is unique in having an iconic station in the Dubai Creek Marina, distinguished by its unique architectural design, which highlights the vision of New Dubai. It was designed by the world-leading firm (SOM) Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, and is one of the largest offices in Dubai. Architectural engineering in the world, which designed the Burj Khalifa, the Olympic Tower in New York, and the Sears Tower in Chicago, and the design of the station is consistent with the urban character of the leading modern residential and commercial towers. Its area is 10,800 square meters, and its capacity is estimated at about 160,000 passengers per day, and the number of its users is expected to reach about 70,000 passengers per day by 2040. The Blue Line also includes the largest transitional subway station for the metro network, which is the International City Station (1), which increases… Its area is 44 thousand square meters, and its capacity is estimated at about 350 thousand passengers per day.

Number of passengers

His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer added that when determining the route of the Dubai Metro Blue Line, consideration was given to achieving sustainability in the project so that it connects many areas and projects with current and future high population density, with an estimated population of about one million people in 2040, the most important of which are Dubai Creek Marina and Festival City, which is It is one of the most important and promising development areas, and Dubai International City, which includes the Chinese market and large residential units, inhabited and visited by more than 200 thousand people, and also serves residential areas such as Al Rashidiya. Al Warqaa and Mirdif, as well as Dubai Silicon Oasis, which is one of the urban centers in the Dubai Urban Plan 2040, and the Academic City, which is expected to have more than 50,000 university students in 2029. He explained that the capacity of the Blue Line is estimated at about 46,000 passengers per hour. In both directions, based on a traffic time of about two minutes, and it is expected that the number of its users in 2030 will reach approximately 200 thousand passengers per day, increasing To 320 thousand passengers daily in 2040.

The highest standards of distinction

For his part, Mehmet Nazif Gunal, Chairman of the Board of Directors of MABA, head of the alliance implementing the project, said: “On behalf of the MABA-Limak-CRRC Alliance, we are pleased to have the honor of implementing one of the most prominent strategic projects…the Blue Line of the Dubai Metro. We are fully aware The great importance of this project as it is part of the Dubai Urban Plan 2040, launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, may God protect him, in the year 2021, and the plan envisions a sustainable future that provides a prosperous environment for citizens, residents and visitors, and aspires to achieve the highest standards of excellence in a way that exceeds all expectations, and makes Dubai the best city to live and work in the world.”

Gunal added: “We are aware of the challenges facing the implementation of a project of this size, but we are committed to achieving success and starting operations of the Blue Line on the specified date of September 9, 2029. This date carries a special symbolism, as it marks the 20th anniversary of the opening of the first Dubai Metro lines, which Playing a pivotal role in the exceptional growth of the emirate by providing flexible and accessible means of transportation in our favorite city. We are confident that, with the support and encouragement of the Roads and Transport Authority, and relying on the wealth of local and international knowledge and expertise “And the technology of our alliance members and design partners, we will be able to work as one team to ensure the success of the project.”

Gunal concluded his speech: “We are confident in our ability to provide a work environment that guarantees the overall success of the project in a way that benefits everyone, and we look forward to working and cooperating with all parties to complete this historic project.”

Timetable

The project implementation work will begin in April 2025, with all work being completed and the official start of operation in September 2029, coinciding with the 20th anniversary of the opening of the Dubai Metro Red Line.

Global standing

The Dubai Metro has maintained its position as the longest driverless metro project in the world for more than 15 years, and upon completion of the Blue Line, the total length of the train network (metro and tram) will increase from the current 101 km to 131 km, including 120 km for the Dubai Metro, and 11 km for the Dubai Metro. km for the Dubai Tram, and the number of metro and tram stations will increase from 64 stations to 78 stations, including 67 stations for the Dubai Metro, and 11 stations for the Dubai Tram, and the number will increase. Trains range from 140 to 168 trains, including 157 metro trains and 11 trams.