Mohammed bin Rashid inaugurates excavation work in the Dubai Metro Blue Line tunnels

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, may God protect him, inaugurated the basic excavation work in the tunnels of the Dubai Metro Blue Line project, which costs 20.5 billion dirhams and is 30 kilometers long, including 15.5 kilometers underground and 14.5 kilometers above ground level. It includes 14 stations, including 3 transit stations, 7 overhead stations, and 4 underground stations. The project serves 9 vital areas estimated at Its population is about one million people, according to the Dubai Urban Plan 2040.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, and His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai, was briefed on the interior designs of the metro stations and the progress of work in implementing the project, stressing that investment in the transportation sector is an investment in the future, and an essential pillar for enhancing Dubai’s global competitiveness.

His Highness pointed out that the Dubai Metro Blue Line represents an extension of an integrated vision that aims to build a more interconnected, efficient and sustainable city.

His Highness said that our projects in Dubai are being implemented in accordance with the highest international standards, with clear plans and precise timetables, and with national competencies capable of transforming the vision into tangible achievements on the ground, and their implementation is supervised by 180 experts and engineers in the field of trains and railways.

The inauguration was also attended by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, President of Dubai Airports, Supreme Chairman and CEO of Emirates Airline and Group, His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Olympic Committee, and a number of officials.

Dubai continues to establish a development model based on anticipating the future, by developing advanced infrastructure that keeps pace with its economic and urban ambitions, and enhances the emirate’s readiness for new stages of growth.

The inauguration of the Blue Line tunneling work, today from the largest transitional tunnel station for the metro network, with an area exceeding 44 thousand square metres, embodies Dubai’s commitment to providing a smart transportation system that contributes to improving the quality of life, supports the movement of individuals and businesses, and connects communities within an integrated urban framework, which consolidates its position as the best city to live, work and visit.

Upon his arrival at the site of International City Station (1), His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum was received by the Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority, Mattar Al Tayer, and a number of heads of the “MAPA, Limak, and CRRC Hong Kong” alliance companies, in addition to the heads of the consulting and contracting companies responsible for implementing the project, and a number of executive directors in the authority.

At the beginning of the visit, His Highness listened to an explanation from Mattar Al Tayer about the progress of work on the project, starting with His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum approving the route of the Dubai Metro Blue Line in November 2023, then awarding the project contract in December 2024, leading up to His Highness laying the foundation stone for the start of project implementation in June 2025, where the current completion rate has reached 20%, as more than 10,000 workers are working on the project, and more than 500 engineers are supervising it. And an expert led by Emirati competencies.

The coalition has completed more than 13 million hours of work, without recording any lost-time injuries. Construction work in the stations is progressing at an accelerated pace that exceeds the planned completion rates, reflecting the efficiency of implementation. Bridge construction work is also continuing with the installation of pillars and columns, as the coalition implementing the project has begun implementing the pillars of the bridge that crosses the Dubai Creek, which is the first metro bridge to cross the creek with a length of 1.3 kilometers, and the features of the bridges will begin to emerge next June.

According to the project’s timetable, the completion rate is expected to rise to 30% by the end of 2026, and the project will open on September 9, 2029.

Al Tayer explained in his explanation that the length of the Dubai Metro and Tram network is 101 km, and the number of trains is 140 trains. The number of users of the Dubai Metro, since its operation in September 2009 until the end of 2025, reached about 2.8 billion passengers, including 295 million passengers last year, recording a growth of 7% over the year 2024. The average number of metro users is estimated at about one million passengers daily, and the Dubai Metro takes over 40% of the total number of public transportation users in the emirate.

His Highness reviewed the architectural designs for the entrances to the transitional station in Dubai International City (1), which is the largest transitional subway station for the metro network, with an area of ​​more than 44,000 square metres, and an estimated capacity of about 350,000 passengers per day.

His Highness also viewed the interior designs of the metro stations, which include a distinct design for the iconic “Emaar Properties” station, which has an area of 11,000 square metres, and is the highest metro station in the world with a height of 74 metres. It is unique in its design that focuses on open spaces and the use of light as an essential element, to provide a unique visual enjoyment. Its design was taken into account to give a sense of luxury, as the visitor embraces towering walls that elegantly soar upward, decorated with natural textures and earthy tones. Warm, it enhances the connection to the land, evokes the spirit of the place, and highlights the solidity and unity of society, in an architectural scene that gives every visitor a sense of welcome and belonging, and consolidates its position as a gateway to Dubai’s bright future.

The interior designs of the rest of the stations have a contemporary character and flowing lines derived from the four elements of nature, which are air, water, earth, and fire. Three stations were designed with the theme of air, which symbolizes ambition and advancement, and focuses on open spaces and light that give a feeling of freedom and sublimity.

Two stations were designed with a water theme, which expresses the city’s ancient maritime history through flowing designs and calm colors that suggest constant movement, as the spaces are formed as an interconnected series of spaces with lighting that enhances the sense of calm and flow, providing a comfortable and balanced transportation journey.

While 4 stations were designed with an earth theme, which symbolizes nature by designing an interior environment in earthy colors that express the authenticity of Dubai, where the spaces are characterized by calm and balance, with rich designs that enhance the sense of stability and belonging.

Two stations were designed with a fire theme, symbolizing the dynamic energy of the city of Dubai through vibrant and powerful color gradations, and the interior spaces are characterized by movement, as the lighting reflects a sense of speed and activity.

After that, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum gave the signal for the operation of the tunnel borer known as (Tunnel Boring Machine – TBM), which the Roads and Transport Authority called the “Waqisha”, marking the start of excavation work in the tunnels of the Dubai Metro’s Blue Line. Drilling work will begin in 3 directions, starting from International City Station 1, where the first Waqisha will head towards the Mirdif area, and the second Waqisha will head towards the car market area. The third stop will be heading towards the Warsan area (International City 2).

The Al-Waqisha tunneling machine is 163 meters long, weighs more than 2,000 tons, and works around the clock. The average length of digging ranges from 13 to 17 meters per day.

The drill is unique in its advanced technologies, as it is equipped with precise digital guidance systems, advanced monitoring and control systems, in addition to an integrated logistical system for transporting drilling materials. It is characterized by its ability to break up rocks and penetrate sand layers and any other objects that may encounter the drilling process. It contains a “huge metal gear” cover, supported by a robotic tail, and at the front appears a cutting wheel with a cavity behind the wheel whose shape varies according to the types of drilling and ground layers being drilled, and the type of soil. Which is being worked on, and behind the cavity are hydraulic cranes to support the excavator’s push forward during the drilling process.

The “vessel” includes a soil removal machine, mud extraction pipes, a control room, and other necessary high-tech parts with superior features to speed up and complete drilling operations.

The “wagisha” is an environmentally friendly machine, and does not cause any negative impact on the ground layers adjacent to where the drilling operations are taking place. In addition, it creates tunnels with consistent levels, which facilitates the building and construction operations, and reduces the expenses of installing tunnel walls.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum took a souvenir photo with the work team supervising the implementation of the Blue Line from the Authority and the project implementing and consulting coalition.

The Blue Line of the Dubai Metro is connected to the Green Line at Al Khor Station, and the Red Line at Center Point Station, and serves residential and academic areas and development projects, with an estimated population of about one million people in 2040.

It also serves one of the urban centers identified by the Dubai Urban Plan, which is the Dubai Silicon Oasis Center, which is an incubator for innovation and knowledge and contributes to developing the knowledge and technology economy sector and attracting talented and innovative people. It contributes to providing direct flights between those areas to Dubai International Airport in 20 minutes. It also contributes to reducing traffic congestion by 20% on the axes served by the Blue Line.

The Blue Line extends in two directions, the first from the Al Khor Transit Station on the Green Line, in the Al Jaddaf area, passing through Dubai Festival City, the Dubai Creek Marina area, and the Ras Al Khor Industrial Area, and from there to Dubai International City (1), which includes a subway transit station, and continues towards International City (2) and (3), then to Dubai Silicon Oasis, arriving at Academic City. The length of this section is 21 kilometers and includes 10 stations.

The second direction of the Blue Line extends from the Center Point transitional station on the Red Line in the Rashidiya area, passing through the Mirdif and Al Warqaa areas, reaching the transitional station in International City (1). It is 9 kilometers long and includes four stations. The project also includes the establishment of a station for the accommodation and maintenance of trains in the third Al-Ruwayyah area.

The iconic station, Emaar Properties, is the highest metro station in the world, with a height of 74 metres, and it is inspired by the idea of ​​​​the transit gate: It was designed by the world-leading American firm Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM), which is one of the largest architectural offices in the world, which designed the Burj Khalifa, the Olympic Tower in New York, and the Sears Tower in Chicago.

The station is characterized by an urban and unique design, in line with the urban fabric of the region, and shows Dubai’s vision as a gateway to the future. Its area is approximately 11,000 square metres, and its capacity is estimated at about 160,000 passengers per day. The number of users of the station in 2040 is expected to reach more than 70,000 passengers per day. The station serves the residents of the Dubai Creek Marina area, whose number is estimated at 40,000 people, in addition to visitors to the region.

The Blue Line is the first train project implemented by the Authority, which includes the establishment of two factories for the production of ready-mixed concrete, and two storage sites for precast concrete, in the areas of Al-Ruwayyah 3 and the International City. It is a proactive approach of the Authority in implementing major projects. This step contributed to controlling and ensuring the quality and efficiency of construction materials, and full control of the manufacturing and supply chains, which reflects positively on reducing implementation time and raising the efficiency of logistical operations.

The production capacity of the ready-mixed concrete mixing plant in the Al-Ruwayyah area is 200 cubic meters of ready-mix concrete mixing plant, and the precast bridges plant produces 10 to 12 pieces of bridges per day.

The factory in the International City area produces 120 cubic meters of ready-mixed concrete (Concrete batching plant), and the precast tunnel rings factory produces 12 rings per day.