Dubai Metro turns 5: Watch vision that changed lives of half-a-billion

Dubai Metro celebrates its fifth anniversary today (9/9/2014) amid very healthy indicators of success in the operational efficiency judged by the high compliance with trips timetables, world-class safety standards, and the number of riders, which recorded about 500 million since the service was launched in September 2009 till the end of last August.

On this day in 2009, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, opened the Red Line of the Dubai Metro, which stretches 52km and covers 29 stations comprising 4 underground stations, 24 elevated stations, and one station at the grade.

Two years after the start of the operation of the Dubai Metro Red Line, namely on 9/9/2011, Sheikh Mohammed opened the Dubai Metro Green Line; which spans 23km linking 18 stations including six underground stations, and 12 elevated stations. The Red and Green lines converge at two transfer stations namely Al Ittihad Station, and Burjuman Station.

Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), said: “This huge achievement goes beyond the realms of the Emirate to cover the entire world, as it reflects positively on the image of Dubai as a distinctive metropolis and a hub for business and advanced living styles.

To commemorate the fifth aniversary of Dubai Metro, RTA has commissioned a specially designed NOL card. (SUPPLIED)

"The Dubai Metro has added a new beautiful dimension to the landmarks and towering achievements of Dubai, particularly as it uses the latest technology of rail industry and is considered the longest driverless metro line worldwide.”

“The Dubai Metro project is a brainchild of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, in providing a world-class infrastructure, rendering Dubai a global financial and business hub.

"The idea reflects the firm belief of Sheikh Mohammed in the importance of the Metro system in achieving and providing the requirements of urban growth witnessed by the city. Sheikh Mohammed has envisaged the metro to shape as the backbone of the transport system that connects various vital areas in the emirate, and provides easy and safe mobility for passengers,” added Al Tayer.

“The Dubai Metro is a shrewd idea envisioned by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, in nurturing a comprehensive infrastructure of roads network and transportation systems covering railways, public buses, and marine transit modes besides using the latest traffic technologies with the objective of providing an integrated transit system that keeps pace with the sweeping development drive witnessed by the emirate, and responds to the futuristic ambitions of the emirate.

“The number of Dubai Metro Red Line users since the start of operation on 09/09/2009 until last August, soared to 333,661,032 riders.

The number of riders has grown steadily, jumping from 38,887,718 riders in 2010 to 60,024,794 riders in 2011.  In 2013, it continued its upward trajectory to touch 88,886,539 riders, and in the first eight months of this year, the number of Red Line users climbed to 67,054,535 riders.

The total number of Green Line users, which was opened on 09/09/2011, until the end of last August, went up to the tune of 134,251,247 riders.

The number of Green Line users in 2012 was about 37,577,000 riders, and shot even higher in 2013 to as many as 48,872,719 riders, whereas in the first eight months of this year the number has already touched 38,819,433 riders,” elaborated Al Tayer.

Milestones of the Dubai Metro project:

•         Dubai Metro project is a brainchild of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, as part of his vision to develop Dubai into a global financial and business hub.

•         July 2005: The Design & Construction of the Dubai Metro Project contract was awarded to the Dubai Rapid Link (DURL) consortium.

•         March 21, 2006: His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum inaugurated the construction works of the Dubai Metro project in an official function held at Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai.

•         July 29, 2006: Casting the first concrete pier for the Dubai Metro viaducts between the 6th and 7th Interchanges of the Sheikh Zayed Road.

•         Jan 10, 2007: His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the initial drilling works of the Dubai Metro tunnels by pushing the button of the giant Tunnel Boring Machine (Alwugisha) marking the start of the tunneling works from Al Ittihad Station towards the Dubai Creek and up to Burjman Station.

•         March 7, 2008: The first batch of 10 metro carriages arrived in Jebel Ali Port.

•         September 20, 2008: His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the trial run of the Dubai Metro on the test track.

•         9/9/2009: His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the official operation of the Red Line, starting with 10 stations.

•         9/9/2011: His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the official operation of the Green Line of the Dubai Metro.

Interesting Stats

•         The two lines extend about 75km; 52km in the Red Line and 23km in the Green Line.

•         Both lines contain underground sections especially in the downtown and the rest is an elevated track, with a limited part of the Red Line (3.3km) on grade level.

•         Each of the Dubai Metro driverless trains consists of five fully air-conditioned carriages, and has a capacity to accommodate about 650 riders.

•         79 metro trains have been provided to serve the Dubai Metro network, of which 51 are currently deployed to run the daily services on the Red Line, and 16 on the Green Line.

•         The designed capacity of the Dubai Metro network (both Red and Green lines) is 26,000 riders per hour per direction. Both lines are expected to lift 800,000 riders per day (about 292 million riders) per year in 2020.

•         During some peak months, the average number of metro riders touches 360,000 riders per day at a rate of about 20,000 riders per hour per direction in both lines, which accounts for about 40% of the designed capacity of the Dubai Metro.

•         Three multi-level car park terminals have been built with an estimated capacity to accommodate more than 8,000 vehicles.

•         The interior design of the metro stations features five themes, namely:

•         Heritage: Symbolises the culture and history of the UAE.

•         Earth: Marks the start of the Dubai modern and urban drive, which resembles the force & durability of earth & soil.

•         Air: Symbolises the elation and joy that Dubai provides to residents and visitors.

•         Fire: Symbolises the energy, vigour and the strong will displayed by Dubai leaders.

•         Water: Symbolises the human values which Dubai seeks to ensure in its modern achievements.

"The Metro system is also viewed as a true manifestation of the Dubai Strategic Plan 2015 in general, and the Infrastructure and Environment Plan, in particular, in terms of providing smooth mobility, improving the safety levels, and making mass transit systems the ideal mobility choice. Operating the Dubai Metro at this high efficiency adds to the array of achievements posted by Dubai noting that the Metro compliance with the timetables of trips clocked 98 per cent; which is quite high.”

RTA Chairman of the Board and Executive Director, praised the strategic partners whose efforts were integral part of the success of the RTA in the successful operation of the Dubai Metro, and at the top of these comes the General HQ of the Dubai Police represented by the General Department of Transport & Rescue, and Serco company which is responsible for the metro operation.

Al Tayer also commended the Dubai Metro riders, who made the metro their first choice of mobility between various districts of Dubai, for their compliance with the rules and regulations governing the use of the metro and maintaining the facilities of the project. Over these five years no single incident was reported about breaching the code or vandalizing the facilities of the project. He also hailed the efforts of RTA employees, especially the Rail Agency staffs for their immense efforts in monitoring and following up the metro operation.

Al Tayer was delighted with the positive indicators depicting a growth in the number of the metro riders; which proves that RTA’s plan for increasing the public transport ridership is moving in the right direction. Indictors also reflect an evolution in people’s perception and the culture of the community towards public transit means.

People have started to feel and experience the benefits of public transport systems including the psychological & physical comfort associated with the hassle-free mobility, and reduced outlays of fuel and vehicle maintenance.

“These indicators,” added Al Tayer, “confirm that the RTA is edging closer to the set target of raising the share of public transport in the mobility of people to as much as 30 per cent of the total number of trips by 2030, as it reached 13 per cent in 2013.

"The massive investments injected by the Dubai Government in upgrading the infrastructure of public transport sector proved both feasible & effective in bolstering the economic development witnessed by the Emirate of Dubai under the prudent leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai.

"It also acted as a catalyst to reviving the business process, boosting tourist activities, and offering safe & smooth transit systems capable of facilitating the mobility, propping up the economy and raising the competitive edge of Dubai in hosting international events such as conferences, sports events, and horse races among others, highlighted by Dubai’s successful bidding to host Expo 2020. Investment on public transport will also result in conserving the environment, slashing the financial impact of traffic congestions, and shifting the demand for mobility services from private vehicles to public transit means.”

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