Image credit: Dubai Media Office/X account
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) of Dubai has officially released the route map of the Dubai Metro Blue Line, offering a first glimpse of the emirate’s next major urban transit project. Set to open in 2029, the new line will connect 14 ground-level and underground stations across Dubai, with a capacity exceeding 320,000 passengers per day.
The project is expected to enhance the integration of Dubai Metro’s network, elevating the quality of life and improving daily mobility across the city, a video posted on RTA’s official X account emphasised.
إليك خريطة مسار الخط الأزرق لـ #مترو_دبي، من #هيئة_الطرق_و_المواصلات، المشروع الذي سيربط عند افتتاحه عام 2029، بين 14 محطة هامة حول دبي، بينها محطات علوية ومحطات تحت مستوى الأرض، بقدرة استيعابية تتجاوز 350 ألف راكب يومياً. يساهم المشروع في تحقيق أعلى تكامل لشبكة المترو، إلى جانب… pic.twitter.com/16ZBxU83Md
— RTA (@rta_dubai) December 14, 2025
Dubai’s RTA has achieved a major milestone in the Blue Line’s development, with 10 per cent of construction now complete, just five months after the groundbreaking ceremony in June 2025. The 30-kilometre metro extension is being delivered by over 500 engineers and experts, supported by 3,000 workers across 12 sites, according to a Dubai Media Office report.
Read more-Dubai Metro Blue Line: What you need to know as the 2029 launch nears
Mattar Al Tayer, director general and chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA, confirmed construction is proceeding on schedule. The authority expects 30 percent completion by the end of 2026 and has targeted September 9, 2029, for the official opening of the line.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, attended the foundation stone-laying ceremony, highlighting the significance of the Blue Line in Dubai’s public transportation development.
Integrating key districts and communities
The Blue Line will connect the Green Line at Creek Station and the Red Line at Centrepoint Station, linking nine major districts projected to accommodate over one million residents by 2040, in line with the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan.
Since its launch in 2009, the Dubai Metro has transported over 2.527 billion passengers.
Ridership increased from 38.9 million in 2010 to 275.4 million in 2024, averaging around 900,000 daily passengers last year. Forecasts indicate passenger numbers will surpass 300 million by 2026 and reach 320 million by 2031.
Metro infrastructure has expanded from 10 stations at launch to 46 by 2011. The Dubai Tram, introduced in 2014, increased the total to 56 stations, and Metro Route 2020 added seven more in 2021, bringing the total to 64. The Blue Line’s 14 new stations will bring the network to 78 stations. Train numbers have similarly grown from 16 at launch to 140 by 2021, with plans to expand to 168 (157 Metro trains and 11 Tram trains) once the Blue Line is operational.
Iconic architecture and sustainable design
Nine elevated and five underground stations will feature modern, environmentally conscious designs. Elevated stations showcase seashell-inspired exteriors, while Expo and Emaar Properties stations highlight iconic architectural elements. Interior station themes include Heritage, Earth, Air, Fire, and Water, with special motifs for Expo and Emaar Properties stations.
The Blue Line emphasizes sustainability, efficiency, and innovation, reducing travel times, improving connectivity across districts, providing a direct link to Dubai International Airport, and contributing to lower traffic congestion and carbon emissions.
Strategic routes
The Blue Line comprises two main routes:
- The first route stretches 21 kilometres from Creek Interchange Station through Dubai Festival City, Dubai Creek Harbour, Ras Al Khor, and International City, ending at Academic City with 10 stations, including an underground interchange.
- The second route covers nine kilometres from Centrepoint Interchange Station in Al Rashidiya to International City 1, passing through Mirdif and Al Warqa with four stations. A new metro depot will be constructed at Al Ruwayah 3.
A promotional film highlighted the Blue Line’s role in connecting the Red and Green lines, providing 20-minute journeys to Dubai International Airport, and supporting the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan’s “20-minute city” concept.
Station highlights
- Creek Station: A multimodal anchor
Creek Station serves as the primary interchange with the Green Line, improving passenger distribution and cross-network journeys while supporting rising commuter volumes in Dubai Creek and Al Jaddaf. - Dubai Festival City Station: Boosting retail and hospitality access
This station provides direct access to Dubai Festival City, supporting retail and hospitality sectors by enhancing footfall during peak tourism and retail periods. - Dubai Creek Harbour Station: The tallest metro station globally
Dubai Creek Harbour Station, connected by a viaduct over Dubai Creek, serves as a landmark transit hub and supports mobility in the rapidly developing Creek Harbour district. - Ras Al Khor Station: Industrial and residential connectivity
Ras Al Khor Station links industrial zones with residential areas, improving workforce transit and daily mobility while promoting public transport usage.
5–7. International City Stations 1, 2, and 3: Residential hub access
These three stations balance ridership, provide better access for residents and visitors, including Dragon Mart, and strengthen network coverage in dense residential districts.
- Dubai Silicon Oasis Station: Technology and innovation anchor
Serving one of Dubai’s key technology hubs, this station enhances accessibility for start-ups, research centres, corporate offices, and workforce mobility, supporting talent attraction and reduced commuting times. - Academic City Station: Connecting students and staff
Academic City Station serves over 50,000 students and staff by 2029, integrating educational institutions with the broader city and promoting sustainable commuting. - Metro Depot Al Ruwayyah 3 Station: Operational backbone
This functional depot ensures smooth operation and maintenance, supporting the network’s fleet expansion from 140 to 168 trains. - Al Warqaa Station: Residential connectivity
Al Warqaa Station offers multimodal connections, including parking, bus feeders, taxi zones, and facilities for People of Determination, reducing commute times and supporting residential growth. - Mirdif City Centre Station: Strengthening community and retail hubs
This station improves mobility for residents, shoppers, and staff, expanding retail footfall and integrating the suburban community into the metro network. - Centrepoint Station: High-capacity interchange
Centrepoint Station links the Blue and Red Lines, enhancing airport access, cross-city travel, and multi-line transfers with park-and-ride and optimized feeder services. - Emaar Properties (Creek Harbour) Station: Signature landmark
Emaar Properties Station, the tallest globally, manages high passenger volumes, strengthens connectivity in Dubai Creek Harbour, and serves as a landmark infrastructure hub.
The Dubai Metro Blue Line is a cornerstone of urban growth, economic expansion, and quality of life for over one million residents by 2040. By connecting residential zones, academic institutions, technology hubs, retail destinations, and Dubai International Airport, it integrates Dubai’s metro network while supporting sustainability, reducing congestion, and delivering iconic infrastructure.
