The cost of the Dubai Metro has risen to 28 billion dirhams

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, will inaugurate the Dubai Metro on September 9. Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO of the Roads and Transport Authority in Dubai, Mattar Al Tayer, revealed that the construction cost of the Dubai Metro had risen to 28 billion dirhams, after the authority had allocated a previous budget of about 15.5 billion dirhams to implement the project, indicating that there was a difference in views between the authority’s consultants from On the one hand, and the contractors responsible for implementing the Dubai Metro project, on the other hand, about the increase in prices that occurred in the project.

This came in a press conference held yesterday in the main building of the Roads and Transport Authority, to announce the details of the operation of the Dubai Metro. Al Tayer explained that “the metro will launch on the ninth of next September, and will serve 10 stations and operate for 18 hours of operation, and the transit time will be 10 minutes,” pointing out that “In any project, regardless of its size, there is a difference between the two parties to the contract regarding the value of implementation and the prices proposed by the two parties, especially since the Authority includes international consultants who supervise the understanding processes with contractors.” The project implementers are in accordance with the concluded contract, and this does not mean that the authority is not committed to paying, otherwise it would not have been able to implement the Red Line and ensure its readiness for opening.”

The costs of implementing the Dubai Metro project with its red and green lines increased as a result of the expansions and additions to the stations, and the cost of the project rose to exceed 28 billion dirhams. Among the expansions and additions carried out by the authority is the addition of new stations, including the “Mall of the Emirates” and “Saladin” stations, and the expansion of the Red Line from Jebel Ali. To Jebel Ali Airport, which is currently being built, in addition to expanding the Green Line extending between Dubai Healthcare City and Jaddaf Dubai area to a length of 4.5 km, and changes have been made in the designs of the stations. By between 40 and 50%.

Al Tayer announced, “The Red Line will operate on September 9th with 10 stations and six trains per hour, with a crossing time between the 44 trains that will not exceed 10 minutes. The 41-kilometre line will serve the area from Rashidiya to Sheikh Zayed Road at Nakheel Station.” », explaining that «the authority was keen to start operating the metro in a phased manner to ensure the safety of systems and facilities and the safety of its users, in addition to ensuring the readiness of all related systems. Operating trains and stations, and in the first phase, 10 main stations will be operated, including Al-Rashidiya, Airport Terminal 1, City Center, Al-Raqqa, Mall of the Emirates, and the Financial Center, in addition to Al-Jafiliya, Khalid bin Al-Walid, and Al-Ittihad stations, which are shared between the red and green lines.

Al Tayer said, “90% of the 19 Red Line stations that were not operated during the first period are ready to open, including Jebel Ali station. However, the delay in completing real estate projects in the areas served by the stations prevented them from being opened and put into service, especially since some stations It was created to serve specific projects, with all stations to be opened gradually in February of next year.

Al Tayer stated, “Dubai Metro will operate at fixed times during the month of Ramadan from Saturday to Thursday from six in the morning until midnight. After the month of Ramadan, the metro will operate from Saturday until Thursday from six in the morning until 11 at night, and on Friday the metro operating time will be either at Ramadan or after Eid al-Fitr, from two in the afternoon until midnight, with a travel time between trains of 10 minutes, at a rate of six trains per hour, and the metro schedule was determined according to a study prepared by The authority will evaluate the feasibility of the appointments after three months of work.”

Al Tayer confirmed that “the expected calculations for metro revenues within 10 years will exceed 17 billion dirhams, from various sources, including revenues from metro tickets, commercial advertisements that were completely sold, and retail stores, in addition to the rights to sell the names of stations that were completely sold for an amount of one billion and 800 thousand dirhams.”

Stations and locations

• Al Rashidiya Station: Located at the beginning of the Red Line, it includes a multi-storey building that can accommodate about 3,000 vehicles, and serves many densely populated areas, including Al Rashidiya, Mirdif, Al Mizhar, Al Warqa, and Nad Al Hamar, in addition to the residents of the neighboring emirates.
• Terminal 1 Airport Station: serves passengers traveling to and from Dubai Airport.
• City Center, Al-Raqqa, and Khalid Bin Al-Walid stations: serve the city center, densely populated areas, and commercial centers.
• Union Station: It serves the central business district and many government departments. It is located near the main bus station and is linked to marine transportation on Dubai Creek.

Violations of Dubai Metro users

Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO of the Roads and Transport Authority in Dubai, Mattar Al Tayer, announced the imposition of 31 fines on Dubai Metro users in the event of violating the metro laws, including:

• Using public transportation means, facilities, and services without paying the specified fare.
• Using someone else’s card.
• Damaging or vandalizing equipment or seats in public transportation services.
• Spitting, throwing dirt, or doing anything that could pollute transportation means and services.
• Carrying alcoholic beverages on public transportation.
• Selling or promoting goods and services within public transportation.
• Entering a restricted area of ​​public transportation.
• Opening the doors while the train is running.