Dubai Metro turns 11 years old today

Here's a look at the UAE public transit system's milestones since its inception

Last updated:
3 MIN READ
1/35
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.
Gulf News archives
2/35
May 29, 2005 | Qasim Sultan, then Director General of Dubai Muncipality, and Susumu Uchida, Board Member of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, signing the Metro contract.
Gulf News archives
3/35
Sheikh Mohammed unveils a commemorative coin at DIFC station during the Dubai Metro's maiden journey.
Gulf News archives
4/35
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.
Gulf News archives
5/35
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.
Gulf News archives
6/35
March 13, 2007 | Contruction workers prepare the steel structure for piers for the elevated track at the site of a Metro station
Gulf News archives
7/35
March 2007 | The Metro's tracks take shape along Sheikh Zayed Road.
Gulf News archives
8/35
A worker gives the Dubai Metro's tracks a thorough wash as preparations for the opening of the Red line continue in full swing.
Gulf News archives
9/35
March 2008 | The tunnel-boring machine Al Wugeisha breaks through the wall.
Gulf News archives
10/35
April 25, 2008 | Trains are hoisted onto the tracks.
Gulf News archives
11/35
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.
Gulf News archives
12/35
Construction of the 12.6-kilometre underground tracks was one of the most critical parts of the Dubai Metro project.
Gulf News archives
13/35
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).
Gulf News archives
14/35
Dubai Metro is the world's longest driverless automated railway system.
Gulf News archives
15/35
The Dubai Metro provides the backbone of public transport in the city.
Gulf News archives
16/35
A maintenance team is hard at work at the Al Rashidiya train maintenance depot
Gulf News archives
17/35
A view of the Dubai Metro control room at the RTA Operational Control Centre.
Gulf News archives
18/35
The Metro system is to provide an alternative mode of transport to ease congestion, save passengers' travel time and reduce traffic pollution.
Gulf News archives
19/35
March 2008 | A view of the construction site of the elevated track of the red line Dubai Metro Network along Sheikh Zayed Road.
Gulf News archives
20/35
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.
RTA
21/35
November 2018 | The first of the new metro trains destined for #Route2020 has arrived at the Metro Depot at Rashidiya.
RTA
22/35
A Metro station on Route 2020, leading to the Expo 2020 venue, under construction at Discovery Gardens in Dubai.
Gulf News archives
23/35
One of the Dubai Metro stations under construction along Route 2020.
RTA
24/35
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.
Twitter/Dubai Media Office
25/35
Sheikh Mohammed launches Dubai Metro Route 2020
Twitter/Dubai Media Office
26/35
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
WAM
27/35
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).
WAM
28/35
The Expo 2020 Station is the final station on Route 2020.
WAM
29/35
WAM
30/35
The Jebel Ali Station will be an interchange station connecting the new route with the Dubai Metro Red Line.
WAM
31/35
WAM
32/35
Twitter/Dubai Media Office
33/35
Dubai upgrades three Metro stations to cope with increasing number of riders. | A view of the Damac Properties station on the Dubai Metro.
34/35
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.
35/35
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.
Gulf News

Sign up for the Daily Briefing

Get the latest news and updates straight to your inbox

Up Next