Dubai Metro turns 11 years old today

September9, 2009 | The first Metro train winds its way down Sheikh Zayed Road. Dozens of motorists honked and scores of onlookers cheered as the train rolled out of the station.

May 29, 2005 | Qasim Sultan, then Director General of Dubai Muncipality, and Susumu Uchida, Board Member of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, signing the Metro contract.

Sheikh Mohammed unveils a commemorative coin at DIFC station during the Dubai Metro's maiden journey.

August 6, 2006 | A worker who seems to have been caught in a web puts final touches to a foundation piling for a bridge in Al Awir.

A metro train makes a trial run on the red line on Sheikh Zayed Road. The metro, aimed at helping commuters reach strategic areas of the city and was to also branch out into the suburbs through future extensions.

March 13, 2007 | Contruction workers prepare the steel structure for piers for the elevated track at the site of a Metro station

March 2007 | The Metro's tracks take shape along Sheikh Zayed Road.

A worker gives the Dubai Metro's tracks a thorough wash as preparations for the opening of the Red line continue in full swing.

March 2008 | The tunnel-boring machine Al Wugeisha breaks through the wall.

April 25, 2008 | Trains are hoisted onto the tracks.

An official monitors the train's progress on the track. Dubai became the first Gulf state to have a metro and joined the league of mega cities around the world that have similar transport systems.

Construction of the 12.6-kilometre underground tracks was one of the most critical parts of the Dubai Metro project.

Workers are busy laying part of the track of the Dubai Metro. The Red Line extends 52km and comprises 29 stations (4 underground and 25 elevated).

Dubai Metro is the world's longest driverless automated railway system.

The Dubai Metro provides the backbone of public transport in the city.

A maintenance team is hard at work at the Al Rashidiya train maintenance depot

A view of the Dubai Metro control room at the RTA Operational Control Centre.

The Metro system is to provide an alternative mode of transport to ease congestion, save passengers' travel time and reduce traffic pollution.

March 2008 | A view of the construction site of the elevated track of the red line Dubai Metro Network along Sheikh Zayed Road.

Since the launch of the service (on 9/9/2009) till the end of August 2017, the metro has lifted 1.028 billion riders (689 m riders lifted by the Red Line and 339 m riders served by the Green Line). This milestone concurs with RTA’s celebrations of the eighth anniversary of the Metro operation today (Saturday) amid huge success indicators in terms of operational efficiency and high security & safety levels.

November 2018 | The first of the new metro trains destined for #Route2020 has arrived at the Metro Depot at Rashidiya.

A Metro station on Route 2020, leading to the Expo 2020 venue, under construction at Discovery Gardens in Dubai.

One of the Dubai Metro stations under construction along Route 2020.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai has officially inaugurated the Route 2020 Project.

Sheikh Mohammed launches Dubai Metro Route 2020

The seven stations include one interchange station with the Red Line, one Iconic Station at the Expo site, three elevated stations and two underground stations

The track extends 15 km (11.8 km elevated track and 3.2 km underground track) and links seven stations (one Interchange station with the Red Line, one iconic station at EXPO 2020 site, three elevated stations and two underground stations).

The Expo 2020 Station is the final station on Route 2020.

The Jebel Ali Station will be an interchange station connecting the new route with the Dubai Metro Red Line.

Dubai upgrades three Metro stations to cope with increasing number of riders. | A view of the Damac Properties station on the Dubai Metro.

Roads and Transport Authority announced that the completion rate has reached 40 per cent in upgrading three stations on the Dubai Metro Red Line: Dubai Internet City, Damac Properties and UAE Exchange.

Enhancements will add a new western entry to Dubai Internet City station and improving the link between Damac Metro Station and Dubai Marina Tram Station to handle the rising number of riders during morning and evening peak times.