The Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced its plans for the launch of the Dubai Metro Blue Line, set to open its doors to operation on September 9, 2029. The day is set to coincide with the 20th anniversary since the Red Line opened, representing an important milestone in the development of the city’s transit system. The Blue Line seeks to facilitate improved urban mobility, ease traffic congestion, and facilitate sustainable growth consistent with the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan.
Measuring 30 kilometers in length, the Blue Line will have 14 stations—nine elevated and five underground—seamlessly linking important residential and business hubs. Route 1 will stretch 21 kilometers from Al Khor Station in Al Jaddaf through Dubai Festival City, Dubai Creek Harbour, Ras Al Khor, and International City to reach Academic City. Route 2 will be 9 kilometers long, connecting Centrepoint Station in Al Rashidiya with Mirdif, Al Warqaa, and International City.
The Blue Line will take around one million residents daily from one location to another, increasing connectivity within Dubai. Some of the notable highlights include a 1.3-kilometer bridge spanning Dubai Creek and a Dubai Creek Harbour station that is next-generation and has been designed by world-leading architects SOM. The International City 1 station will be a major interchange and will be able to handle as many as 350,000 passengers per day.
Graded to a Turkish Chinese consortium of companies—MAPA, LIMAK, and CRRC—the AED 20.5 billion project reflects Dubai’s eagerness to increase its public transportation network. The Blue Line is anticipated to decrease traffic congestion by 20%, boost property prices by 25% at stations along the metro, and provide AED 56.5 billion in economic and environmental returns by 2040.
