The recently announced Dubai Metro Blue Line is set to transform the city’s public transportation network. Spanning 30 km and comprising 14 stations, the new line will transform mobility across nine key districts, projected to be home to over one million residents, as outlined in the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan.
By 2040, the project is projected to yield a benefit-cost ratio of AED2.60, meaning AED2.60 in benefits for every AED1 spent. The total anticipated benefits will exceed AED56.5 billion ($15.4 billion) by 2040.
These benefits include substantial savings in time and fuel, reduced accident-related fatalities and lower carbon emissions.
Line to reduce traffic by 20 percent
In addition to its major economic returns, the Blue Line is also expected to decrease traffic congestion on its served routes by 20 percent and increase the value of land and properties near stations by up to 25 percent.
The Dubai Metro Blue Line also provides a direct connection between Dubai International Airport and nine key areas situated along its route. It connects with the fifth urban center, Dubai Silicon Oasis Centre, ensuring that all major urban centres in Dubai are seamlessly connected by metro lines.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, attended the foundation stone laying ceremony of the Dubai Metro Blue Line on Monday. Sheikh Mohammed also approved the architectural design of the Emaar Properties Station, the highest metro station in the world, standing at 74 meters.
Dubai’s rail network to expand to 131 km
With the completion of the Dubai Metro Blue Line project, Dubai’s rail network will expand to a total of 131 km, comprising 78 stations and 168 trains.
During the ceremony, Mattar Al Tayer, director general and chairman of the board of executive directors of the Roads and Transport Authority, highlighted the expansion of metro services in Dubai, including the growth in ridership, station design, number of stations and train carriages. The Dubai Metro has transported over 2.527 billion passengers since its launch in 2009 through the end of 2024. The Metro recorded a daily average of 900,000 passengers in 2024.
Ridership has also grown steadily over the years, from 38.887 million in 2010 to 69 million in 2011, reflecting a growth rate of 77 percent. It continued to rise to over 109 million passengers in 2012, before hitting 275.4 million in 2024.
According to studies, the number of Dubai Metro passengers is expected to exceed 300 million in 2026 and reach 320 million by 2031.
Two main routes and 14 stations
The Dubai Metro Blue Line consists of 14 stations, including three interchange stations at Al Jaddaf, Al Rashidiya and International City 1, as well as an iconic station in Dubai Creek Harbour. By 2040, daily ridership on the Blue Line is projected to reach 320,000 passengers. It marks the first Dubai Metro line to cross Dubai Creek on a 1,300-meter-long viaduct.
Al Tayer explained that the Dubai Metro Blue Line links the Green Line at Creek Station and the Red Line at Centrepoint Station. The line serves residential and academic zones, as well as key development projects, with an estimated population of one million by 2040. It also connects to the Dubai Silicon Oasis – one of the urban centers outlined in the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan.
Creek Interchange Station – International City 1 Interchange Station
The Blue Line comprises two main routes. The first runs from Creek Interchange Station on the Green Line, located in Al Jaddaf, passing through Dubai Festival City, Dubai Creek Harbour, and Ras Al Khor, before reaching International City 1, which includes an underground interchange station. The route continues towards International City 2 and 3, extending to Dubai Silicon Oasis and up to Academic City. This section spans 21 km and connects 10 stations.
Centrepoint Interchange Station – International City 1 Interchange Station
Meanwhile, the second route of the Dubai Metro Blue Line starts from the Centrepoint Interchange Station on the Red Line in Al Rashidiya. It passes through Mirdif and Al Warqa, concluding at the International City 1 Interchange Station. This route measures 9 km in length and links four stations. The project also includes the construction of a metro depot at Al Ruwayah 3.
The maximum capacity of the Dubai Metro Blue Line exceeds 850,000 passengers per day, based on the scale of the stations included within the project scope. Passenger numbers are expected to reach 200,000 per day by 2030, rising to 320,000 per day by 2040.
