Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall metro station expansion agreement to increase its capacity by 65%

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has signed an agreement with Emaar Properties to expand the Dubai Metro station, Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall, to accommodate the increasing growth in the number of station users, specifically during New Year’s celebrations, and during holidays and religious and national occasions. The area of the station will increase from 6,700 square meters to 8,500 square metres, and the entrances and pedestrian bridges will be improved, to facilitate passengers’ access to the station, and the concourses and sidewalks will be expanded, and the construction of additional stairs and elevators. Entry gates separate from exit gates, and increasing the number of toll gates, in addition to expanding investment areas to enhance revenues. The project also includes implementing works related to integration elements, with public transportation, other means of transportation, and cosmetic agriculture works.

The station’s capacity will increase from 7,250 passengers per hour to 12,320 passengers per hour, an increase of 65%, and the daily capacity of the station will reach 220,000 passengers per day after the completion of the expansion work.

The agreement was signed on behalf of the Roads and Transport Authority by Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Authority, and on behalf of Emaar Properties by Mohammed Al Abbar, founder of Emaar and Noon, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Eagle Hills and Americana Group, on the sidelines of the Dubai International Project Management Forum, in the presence of a number of officials from both sides.

Partnership between the two sectors

Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority, said: The agreement with Emaar comes as an embodiment 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 partnership and integration between the government and private sectors, to develop a world-class infrastructure that keeps pace with the development boom witnessed by the Emirate of Dubai, enhances Dubai’s readiness to host major international events, and supports its position as a pioneering global city in sustainable urban mobility and quality of life. He stressed that the expansion of the Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall metro station represents a strategic investment in the urban heart of Dubai, where the highest density of tourism and economic activity in the emirate is concentrated. He pointed out that the project confirms the authority’s commitment to a proactive infrastructure capable of accommodating the rapid growth in the numbers of residents and visitors, and enhancing the flow of movement during peak times and major events.

Enhance user service

He added: Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall station is one of the most important Dubai Metro stations, due to its vital location, near Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall, and the Burj Khalifa area (Downtown Dubai). The station is the best and easiest option for residents and visitors to reach and exit the Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall area, especially during New Year’s celebrations, and during holidays and national and religious occasions. He explained that increasing the station’s capacity by 65%, and reaching a daily capacity of up to 220,000 passengers, which will create a qualitative shift in the service of metro users in the Central Dubai area, especially during New Year celebrations and national and religious holidays, ensuring the highest levels of safety, comfort and speed of movement. It will also contribute to accommodating the continuous growth in the number of passengers, and the expected increase until the year 2040, as the station recorded a growth in the number of its users by 7.5% in the past five years.

An investment in quality of life

For his part, Mohammed Al Abbar said: “This agreement comes at the heart of Emaar’s vision to develop integrated urban destinations that put people at the heart of design and planning, and ensure easy access, smooth movement, and a rich experience for everyone who lives in or visits Dubai. He stressed that the Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall area goes beyond being a commercial and tourist center, it is the beating heart of a global city that receives millions of visitors annually, which requires providing transportation infrastructure at the highest level of efficiency and readiness.”

He added: “The expansion of the Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall metro station represents a direct investment in the quality of life and people’s happiness, by reducing travel time, facilitating access to Dubai’s most prominent landmarks, and improving visitors’ experience during peak periods, especially during New Year’s and holiday celebrations, which witness the highest rates of movement in the region.”

Al Abbar stressed that the partnership with the Roads and Transport Authority reflects a successful model of integration between the public and private sectors in supporting sustainable urban growth and ensuring Dubai’s readiness to keep pace with the rapid increase in the number of visitors, shoppers and tourists. He pointed out that Emaar will continue to work with its strategic partners to develop an integrated system of destinations and services that make downtown Dubai one of the most accessible areas, the highest in quality of life, and the most attractive to people from all over the world.

Number of passengers

It is worth noting that the Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall station has witnessed a growth in the number of its users, since its opening in early 2010, as the number of passengers increased from 6 million and 130 thousand passengers in 2013, to 7 million and 254 thousand passengers in 2016, and the number continued to rise to reach 7 million and 885 thousand passengers in 2019, at a rate of 43 thousand passengers per day, up and down, and then rose to reach 8 million and 827 thousand passengers in 2022, and the number of station passengers exceeded 10 million and 202 thousand passengers in 2023, at a rate of 56 thousand passengers per day, and the number of station users in 2024 reached more than 10 million and 577 thousand passengers, and last year recorded a growth in the number of station passengers, reaching nearly 11 million passengers.

Station design
The architectural design of the Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall station is identical to the design of the upper stations of the Dubai Metro on the red and green lines. It is a seashell-shaped design. The interior design is based on the current design style and the axes of safety, security and ease of movement of passengers itself. The design took into account clarity and simplicity, while reducing travel distances to the lowest possible level, and the available spaces were taken into account to maintain visual communication. The entrances to the station on the ground level are integrated with public transportation means, and other means of transportation that include bicycles and electric scooters. And others, and provides a direct connection with pedestrian traffic, and communication with the environment surrounding the station, and the station was also taken into account to adapt it to the requirements of people of determination, senior citizens and residents, and children’s strollers.