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Dubai Metro Celebrates 15 Years Of Connecting Residents And Guests
Monday, September 9, 2024
Dubai Metro commemorates its fifteenth anniversary on Monday, 9 September, a momentous event highlighting its transformative impression on the town’s city transit system. As an emblem of Dubai’s modern and forward-thinking method, the metro has emerged as an important artery connecting important areas throughout the town, providing dependable and sustainable transportation choices for each residents and guests. Since its inception on 9 September 2009, Dubai Metro has grown alongside the town’s speedy urbanisation, contributing considerably to its evolution as a worldwide hub for enterprise, tourism, and futuristic metropolis growth.
In its 15 years of operation, the Dubai Metro has achieved vital milestones, serving roughly 2.4 billion passengers. It has performed a crucial function in assembly the transport wants of Dubai’s increasing inhabitants, delivering distinctive operational effectivity, punctuality, and adherence to top-tier international security requirements.
In the present day, with a median every day ridership of 730,000 passengers, the Dubai Metro stays the transportation alternative for a lot of, because of its spectacular 99.7% punctuality fee and unwavering dedication to security. Since its launch, the metro has facilitated over 4.3 million journeys, protecting a formidable 26.8 million kilometres, solidifying its function as a pillar of Dubai’s transit infrastructure.
Spine of Dubai’s public transport infrastructure
His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, Director Basic, Chairman of the Board of Government Administrators of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), said: “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.”
“Dubai Metro has been privileged to receive unlimited support and strategic guidance from His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, as well as from His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of the UAE,” Al Tayer added.
Steady observe document of success
“Since its inauguration on September 9, 2009, the Dubai Metro has maintained a continuous track record of success. The metro network has expanded significantly, with the length of lines growing from 52 kilometres to 90 kilometres, the number of stations increasing from 10 to 53, and the number of operating trains rising from 79 to 129. Daily ridership also surged from 20,000 on 10 September, 2009, to 767,000 on 3 September, 2024. On some days, such as New Year’s Eve and major holidays, the metro has accommodated up to 900,000 riders in a single day. Furthermore, Dubai Metro has created job opportunities for Emirati nationals, with 228 citizens currently employed by the metro’s operating company. It has maintained its status as the world’s longest driverless metro project and a landmark project of the Roads and Transport Authority in Dubai, serving as the cornerstone of the emirate’s public transport system. It continues to uphold its global reputation for safety, adopting environmentally friendly and effective solutions, supporting green economy principles, and achieving operational efficiency and punctuality in service schedules,” Al Tayer commented.
Constructive indicators
Al Tayer expressed his satisfaction with the optimistic indicators reflecting steady progress in Dubai Metro’s ridership, demonstrating that the substantial investments made by the Authorities of Dubai in creating public transportation infrastructure have been profitable and efficient. “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,” Al Tayer defined.
Strategic Partnerships
Al Tayer expressed heartfelt appreciation to the strategic companions whose collaboration has been pivotal within the continued success of the Dubai Metro. Notable companions embody the Dubai Police Basic Headquarters, particularly the Basic Division of Transport Safety, and Keolis MHI, the corporate chargeable for working the metro. He additionally acknowledged the passengers of Dubai Metro for making it their most popular mode of transportation throughout the emirate and for respecting the laws and sustaining the services. Remarkably, there have been no incidents of vandalism or deliberate harm to the metro services through the years. Al Tayer additional counseled the dedication of the RTA workers, notably these within the Rail Company, for his or her tireless efforts in overseeing and guaranteeing easy operations.
Constant Ridership Progress
Since its launch, Dubai Metro’s ridership has seen steady progress. Within the preliminary 4 months from September to December 2009, the variety of passengers reached 6.089 million. By 2010, this determine surged to 38.089 million, and in 2011, it rose to 69.001 million. The metro’s success continued, with ridership reaching 109.049 million in 2012, 137.076 million in 2013, and 164.031 million in 2014.
By 2015, the quantity elevated to 178.065 million, adopted by 191.033 million in 2016. The metro crossed the 200 million mark in 2017 with 200.075 million passengers, reaching an all-time excessive of 204.041 million in 2018. In 2019, the metro recorded 202.098 million passengers.
Regardless of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Dubai Metro continued to serve 113.063 million riders. Ridership rebounded in 2021 with 151.026 million passengers, and in 2022, the metro set a brand new document with 225.142 million riders. In 2023, the quantity rose to 260.034 million, whereas from January to August 2024, the ridership has already reached 175.46 million.
Route 2020 Enlargement
On 29 June 2016, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum authorised the awarding of the Route 2020 mission contract to increase the Crimson Line from Jebel Ali Station to the Expo 2020 website. Valued at AED 10.6 billion, the contract was awarded to the Expo Hyperlink Consortium, comprising French, Spanish, and Turkish corporations.
The development milestone was marked on 5 September 2016, when His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum laid the muse stone. The Route 2020 line formally opened on 8 July 2020, spanning 15 kilometres, with 11.8 kilometres elevated and three.2 kilometres underground. The route contains seven stations and serves densely populated areas equivalent to The Gardens, Discovery Gardens, Al Furjan, Jumeirah Golf Estates, and Dubai Funding Park, catering to over 270,000 residents. The journey from Dubai Marina to Expo Metro Station takes solely 16 minutes, with a capability of 46,000 passengers per hour in each instructions.
The Blue Line: Future Progress
In alignment with Dubai’s 2040 City Grasp Plan, on 23 November 2023, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum authorised the Dubai Metro Blue Line mission, which is able to span 30 kilometres and join 14 stations. This strategic line is designed to serve roughly a million residents in key areas.
The Blue Line would be the fifth main mission in Dubai’s public transport community, following the Crimson and Inexperienced Strains, the Dubai Tram, and Route 2020. This mission is essential to attaining the Dubai Financial Agenda D33 and strengthening Dubai’s place as a world-class metropolis. The Blue Line will improve connectivity with the Crimson and Inexperienced Strains and supply direct hyperlinks between Dubai Worldwide Airport and 9 key areas alongside the route. Journey instances are anticipated to vary between 10 and 25 minutes.
The Blue Line boasts a number of standout options, together with Dubai Metro’s first bridge crossing Dubai Creek, spanning 1,300 metres, and two architecturally distinctive stations at Dubai Creek Harbour and Dubai Silicon Oasis. The road will even function the most important underground switch station within the metro community, with a capability of 350,000 passengers per day, protecting an space of 44,000 sq. metres. It’s the first Dubai transport mission to fulfill platinum-grade inexperienced constructing requirements.
Operational Excellence
The Rail Operations Management Centre is among the many most superior globally, managing 24/7 operations for the Crimson and Inexperienced Strains. Its precision and effectivity have performed a key function in sustaining the best requirements of security and operational efficiency for Dubai Metro. The centre oversees prepare actions, computerized programs, communication networks, and security protocols, guaranteeing easy every day operations. It additionally manages environmental controls, fireplace security programs, and air flow inside tunnels and stations, contributing to the general effectivity of the community.
Key Milestones in Dubai Metro’s Journey:
21 March 2006: His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum inaugurates the development of Dubai Metro.
29 July 2006: The primary concrete pillar for the elevated bridge is constructed.
10 January 2007: Tunnelling works start from Union Station.
20 September 2008: Technical trial run carried out on the take a look at observe.
9 September 2009: Official inauguration of the Crimson Line with 10 stations.
9 September 2011: Inexperienced Line inaugurated.
29 June 2016: Route 2020 mission contract authorised.
5 September 2016: Basis stone laid for Route 2020.
8 July 2020: Route 2020 formally opens.
23 November 2023: Dubai Metro Blue Line mission authorised.
