Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, officially launched the primary tunnelling works for the Dubai Metro Blue Line on Monday, marking a major milestone in one of the emirate's most ambitious transport projects with an investment exceeding AED20.5 billion.
The 30-kilometre line will run across 14 stations, combining underground and elevated sections to connect nine key districts expected to house around one million residents by 2040 under the Dubai Urban Master Plan. It will link with both the Green and Red Lines, providing direct access to Dubai International Airport in just 20 minutes and reducing traffic congestion along its corridors by an estimated 20%.
Sheikh Mohammed gave the signal to activate the Tunnel Boring Machine, named Al Wugeisha by the RTA, from International City 1 Station — the largest underground interchange station in the metro network at over 44,000 square metres. The 163-metre, 2,000-tonne machine will bore in three directions simultaneously, operating around the clock at an excavation rate of 13 to 17 metres per day.
The project currently stands at 20% completion, with over 10,000 workers and 500 engineers on site. The consortium has logged more than 13 million work hours with zero lost-time injuries. Completion is targeted at 30% by end of 2026, with the line set to open on 9 September 2029.
Among the line's standout features is the Emaar Properties Station — designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, the firm behind the Burj Khalifa — which will rise 74 metres, making it the world's tallest metro station.
Sheikh Mohammed noted that Dubai's infrastructure projects are built to the highest international standards, guided by clear plans and precise timelines, delivered under Emirati leadership.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
