Dubai Metro is celebrating its 15th anniversary tomorrow (Monday, 9 September), marking a significant milestone in its journey of transforming the city’s mass urban transit.

A symbol of Dubai’s spirit of innovation and excellence, the metro has become a vital lifeline connecting key areas across Dubai, providing reliable and sustainable transport for residents and visitors alike.

Since opening on 9 September 2009, the metro has grown to keep pace with the city’s rapid urbanisation, playing an important role in shaping it into a major global hub for business and tourism, and enhancing its status as a city of the future.

Over the last decade and a half, Dubai Metro has consistently grown in ridership, reaching approximately 2.4 billion passengers.

The metro has been instrumental in meeting the demands of the city's rising population and expansion, achieving remarkable success in operational efficiency, punctuality, and adherence to the highest global safety standards.

With an average daily ridership of approximately 730,000 passengers, the metro today is the preferred mode of transportation for numerous residents and visitors.

The metro maintains an impressive punctuality rate of 99.7%, consistently surpassing its targets and upholding high safety standards and operational efficiency. Since its establishment, Dubai Metro has facilitated 4.3 million journeys, encompassing 26.8 million kilometres.

Backbone of Dubai’s public transport infrastructure

His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, Director General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), stated: "The Dubai Metro is one of the visionary initiatives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

"It aims to provide a world-class public transport infrastructure, positioning Dubai as a global hub for finance and business. The concept is anchored in His Highness's firm belief in the importance of a metro system to meet the growing population and urban development needs of the city.

"His Highness envisioned the metro as the backbone of a transportation network that links all key areas in the emirate, ensuring safe and smooth travel for passengers. His Highness also directed that the metro's facilities must have the highest standards of elegance and luxury."

Positive indicators

H.E. Al Tayer expressed his satisfaction with the positive indicators reflecting continuous growth in Dubai Metro's ridership, demonstrating that the substantial investments made by the Government of Dubai in developing public transportation infrastructure have been successful and effective.

H.E. said: “These investments have supported Dubai's development journey, boosted economic activity, and enhanced the emirate's global competitiveness in attracting and hosting major global events, such as exhibitions, conferences, and international meetings. Notably, Dubai won the bid to host Expo 2020.

"The metro has also contributed to environmental preservation, reduced the financial impact of traffic congestion, decreased the demand for private vehicle use, and encouraged a shift towards public transport.

"Moreover, the metro has fostered a cultural shift within the community towards public transportation, with people beginning to appreciate the benefits of a public transport system, such as mental and physical comfort, ease of movement, reduced fuel expenses, and lower vehicle maintenance costs."

Rising numbers

The trajectory of Dubai Metro ridership has shown continuous growth since the service launch. From September to the end of December 2009 (four months), the number of riders rose from 6.089 million to 38.089 million in 2010.

This number further increased to 69.001 million in 2011. In 2012, there was a significant jump, with passenger numbers reaching 109.049 million. By 2013, the figure climbed to 137.076 million, and in 2014, it rose to 164.031 million.

In 2015, the number increased to 178.065 million, and in 2016, it reached 191.033 million. The figure exceeded 200 million, reaching 200.075 million in 2017, and 2018 recorded the highest number of passengers since the project's launch, with 204.041 million. In 2019, the number of passengers was 202.098 million.

Despite the global COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Dubai Metro transported 113.063 million riders. The number increased to 151.026 million in 2021, and in 2022, the metro set a record with 225.142 million riders.

The growth continued in 2023, reaching 260.034 million riders, while from the beginning of this year until the end of August (8 months), the number of riders stood at 175.46 million.

The Blue Line

In continuation of RTA’s efforts to develop the public transport network, on 23 November, 2023, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum approved the route of the Dubai Metro Blue Line, which will stretch 30 kilometres and connect 14 stations.

The line is designed to serve key areas with an expected population of about one million people, according to the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan.

Operational accuracy

The Rail Operations Control Centre is one of the most advanced control centres in the world. It manages the daily operation of Dubai Metro services on the Red and Green Lines around the clock (24/7), requiring a high level of precision, speed, safety, and passenger comfort.

The centre has helped Dubai Metro achieve the highest global safety standards and operational efficiency in adhering to train schedules, speeding up maintenance operations and decision-making, and reducing the likelihood of malfunctions.

The control centre oversees and monitors train movements and the performance of automatic train operation systems, communications systems, and electrical converters in the trains and metro stations.

It also manages the passenger information system, controls train entry to tracks, and regulates train start and stop operations.

The design and implementation have ensured environmental control, supervision of safety systems, fire protection, ventilation, and air conditioning in tunnels, stations, and trains. It also checks the functionality of brakes, doors, and engines in each train.