Tunneling Work Accelerates on $5.6 Billion Dubai Metro Blue Line
Dubai has officially initiated primary tunneling operations for the Blue Line metro project, valued at 20.5 billion UAE dirhams (approximately $5.6 billion). The project is slated for completion and opening on September 9, 2029, as announced by the Dubai Media Office.
Project Overview and Timeline
The Blue Line will span 30 kilometers, consisting of a 15.5-kilometer underground segment and a 14.5-kilometer above-ground section. The commencement of tunneling was marked by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Construction began in June 2025 and is currently 20 percent complete, with projections indicating a 30 percent completion rate by the end of this year.
Sheikh Mohammed emphasized that the Blue Line is part of a broader vision to create a more connected, efficient, and sustainable urban environment. He noted ongoing projects aimed at reshaping Dubai, including a new global airport and advanced transport networks.
Contract and Project Management
The design-build contract for the Blue Line was awarded in December 2024 to a Turkish-Chinese consortium comprising Mapa-Limak and China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC). The Turkish firms will oversee civil works, while CRRC will supply the rail systems, including a fleet of 28 driverless trains. Project management is being handled by a joint venture of AtkinsRealis and Parsons Corporation.
More than 10,000 workers and 180 rail specialists are engaged in the project, which will feature 14 stations, including three interchange stations, seven elevated stations, and four underground stations, along with a train depot located in Al Ruwaiyah 3.
Tunneling Operations
The initial phase of tunneling will commence from the International City 1 Station, utilizing three Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs). One TBM will head towards Mirdif, another towards the Auto Market, and the third towards Al Warsan (International City 2). In the subsequent phase, these TBMs will be deployed beneath Emirates Road towards the Al Ruwaiyah 3 depot and from Al Rashidiya towards Mirdif. The average excavation rates for these TBMs are projected to be between 13 and 17 meters per day. The TBMs are being supplied by Germany-based CREG Wirth, part of the China Railway Engineering Equipment Group.
Infrastructure Developments
Construction has also commenced on the piers for a 1.3-kilometer viaduct over Dubai Creek, with bridge structures expected to materialize by June 2027. This will be the first metro crossing above the creek, as existing Red and Green metro lines currently traverse below ground.
Support for tunneling and construction operations is being provided by two ready-mix concrete batching plants—one with a capacity of 200 cubic meters in Al Ruwayyah and another with a 120-cubic meter capacity in International City. Additionally, two precast plants are operational, including a precast viaduct factory in Al Ruwayyah 3 and a precast tunnel ring factory in International City.
Iconic Station Designs
The construction of Blue Line metro stations is advancing rapidly. The station at Dubai Creek Harbour, designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), will be the tallest metro station globally at 74 meters, covering 11,000 square meters. It is expected to accommodate 160,000 passengers daily, with an anticipated 70,000 daily users by 2040.
International City (1) is projected to become the largest underground interchange station in the Dubai Metro network, spanning over 44,000 square meters and expected to handle 350,000 passengers daily. The design themes for the stations include air, water, earth, and fire.
The Blue Line will also be the first transport project in Dubai to fully comply with green building standards, targeting LEED Platinum certification.
Network Connectivity and Future Projections
The Blue Line will connect with the Green Line at Creek Station and the Red Line at Centrepoint Station. The first route will start at Al Khor Interchange Station on the Green Line, passing through several key areas before reaching International City (1). This 21-kilometer route will include ten stations with a combination of underground and elevated tracks.
The second route will begin at Centrepoint Interchange Station on the Red Line, extending through Mirdif and Al Warqaa to the interchange station at International City (1). This segment will cover nine kilometers and consist of four stations.
With a capacity of 46,000 passengers per hour in both directions and a train frequency of approximately two minutes, the Blue Line is expected to serve nearly 200,000 passengers daily by 2030, rising to 320,000 by 2040. The line will serve nine key districts, accommodating a projected population of around one million as part of the Dubai 2040 urban master plan.
The total economic benefits of the project are anticipated to exceed AED 56.5 billion by 2040, driven by time savings, reduced fuel consumption, fewer accident-related fatalities, and lower carbon emissions. It is expected to alleviate traffic congestion on major roadways by 20 percent and increase property values near its stations by up to 25 percent.
Additional Developments in Dubai’s Metro System
In April, Sheikh Mohammed announced the launch of the AED 34 billion Gold Line, the city’s first fully underground metro line and its largest transportation project to date. This line will connect 15 strategic areas across Dubai and is expected to serve approximately 1.5 million residents through 18 stations.
The current total length of the Dubai Metro network is 90 kilometers, including the Red Line, Green Line, and Route 2020. Upon completion of the Blue Line, the network will extend to 131 kilometers, comprising 78 stations and 168 trains. The Gold Line’s completion will further expand the network to 172 kilometers and 96 stations.
Source: www.zawya.com
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Published on 2026-05-04 22:11:00 • By the Editorial Desk
