Massive cooling system overhaul completed at Dubai Metro stations

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), through its Rail Agency, has completed the second phase of a large-scale upgrade of the ventilation and air conditioning systems across Dubai Metro’s Red and Green Lines.

The works, part of RTA’s 2024–2030 Strategic Plan, aim to enhance passenger comfort, boost operational efficiency, and ensure long-term sustainability of transport infrastructure.

The initiative, undertaken in collaboration with Keolis-MHI — Dubai Metro’s operations and maintenance partner — aligns with RTA’s vision to be the global leader in seamless and sustainable mobility.

During this second phase, the Rail Agency overhauled 876 ventilation and cooling assets across 14 Red Line stations and two car parks.

Works included refurbishing or replacing critical components such as air handling units (AHUs), fan coil units (FCUs), chilled water pumps, extract and smoke extract fans, and pressurisation systems.

Technicians also conducted in-depth tasks including coil and bearing replacements, deep system cleaning, and dynamic balancing — restoring each unit to optimal, design-intended performance. Notably, the project was completed with no disruption to metro services.

The project was designed with Dubai’s challenging climate in mind. With external temperatures soaring during the summer months, metro stations face the constant influx of hot air due to frequent train arrivals and door openings.

The upgraded cooling systems now maintain a consistent internal temperature of 24–25°C — vital for passenger comfort and system resilience.

To avoid affecting daily operations, the entire 10-month programme was scheduled during night shifts and off-peak hours, ensuring seamless travel experiences throughout the execution period.

Following the success of Phases 1 and 2, which collectively covered more than 1,100 assets, RTA has initiated preparations for Phase 3.

This final stage will address the remaining 25% of public-area FCUs and upgrade AHUs located in back-of-house and critical rooms across Red Line stations. Experimental and verification work for Phase 3 began in mid-July 2025.

The overhaul is part of RTA’s long-term asset strategy focused on reliability, energy efficiency, and ensuring Dubai Metro continues to meet the growing expectations of residents and visitors alike.