All Aboard The dubai metro
With the launch of the Middle East’s first automated rail transport system on 09/09/2009. Dubai is witnessing history in the making.
The railway system will be launched in two phases – the Red Line and the Green Line.
The Red Line will be 52.1 km long and will run from Rashidiya to Jebel Ali, covering a span of 29 stations, of which 10 will open on September 09. The Red Line is expected to take an hour to travel the whole 52.1 km and will take over 30,000 passengers an hour at peak times.
In March 2010 The Green Line will launch and will run from Al Qusais to Jaddaf taking in 18 stations en route, on its 22.5 km journey. It will have 14 stations, six underground at eight at ground level. The initial Red Line stations to initially open are;
- Al Rashidiya,
- Terminal Three,
- Deira City Centre,
- Al Rigga,
- Union Station,
- Khalid bin Al Walid,
- Al Jafliya,
- Financial Centre,
- Mall of the Emirates,
- Nakheel Harbour and Tower.
There will be three classes on each train;
- Golden Class (VIP)
- Women and children
- Silver Class – economy
The Green Line will initially have a capacity of 6,395 passengers per hour per direction with 16 trains in operation and is ultimately expected to have a capacity of 13,380 passengers per hour per direction with 60 trains in operation.
DUBAI METRO RUNNING TIMES
Saturday: Thursday 6am - 11pm
Friday: 2pm - 12midnight
Ramadan Timings
Saturday: Thursday 6am - 12midnight
Friday: 2pm - 12midnight
The main depot for the trains will be at Rashidiya, just before the Rashidiya Station. An auxiliary depot will be located at Jebel Ali Port.
The interior of the stations will carry one of four themes – earth, fire, water and air. Earth will have a tan brown colour effect, water will have a blue/white colour effect, and fire will have an orange colour effect while air will have a green colour effect.
Officials are negotiating branding of the various stations with local and international companies.
Maps will be available on line at www.rta.ae and in all Dubai Metro Stations and RTA offices - ‘My Metro. My City’ Newspapers will also carry maps at the campaign launch.
Ticketing
Ticket vending machines will be available to at all Dubai Metro Stations and bus stations as well as in the malls and airport. Having purchased ticket travellers will swipe it at an electronic gate system before entering the platform where automatic train doors will open and close in unison whenever the Dubai Metro arrives and departs a station.
Frequent travellers can use the Unified Automatic Fare Collection card – Nol Cards or less frequent users can buy temporary tickets for single journeys, one day tickets or 10 trip tickets.
Children under 5 years of age travel free.
Cost of Temporary Cards
| Type | <3kms | 1 Zone | 2 Zones | 3 or more Zones |
| Single Trip | 2Dhs | 2.5Dhs | 4.50Dhs | 6.50Dhs |
| Single Trip Gold | 4Dhs | 5Dhs | 9Dhs | 13Dhs |
| 10 Trip Ticket | 20Dhs | 25Dhs | 45Dhs | 65Dhs |
| 1 Day Ticket | 14Dhs (allows travel in any zone and in any transport) | |||
Permanent Card - Nol
| Type | <3kms | 1 Zone | 2 Zones | 3 or more Zones |
| Single Trip Adult | 1.80Dhs | 2.30Dhs | 4.10Dhs | 5.80Dhs |
| Single Trip Gold | 3.60Dhs | 4.60Dhs | 8.20Dhs | 11.60Dhs |
| Single Trip Senior/Student | 0.90Dhs | 1.15Dhs | 2.05Dhs | 2.90Dhs |
| Unlimited Trips 30 Days Adults | 100Dhs | 180Dhs | 270Dhs | |
| Unlimted Trips 30 Days Senior | 200Dhs |
|||
| Unlimited Trips 30 Days Student | 170Dhs |
|||
Time Tables
During peak time it is expected that times between trains will be no more than 4 minutes and off peak no more than 8 minutes.
SPECIAL NEEDS FACILITIES
Each station has wheelchair wide entrance gates and lifts from the ground floor level. Priority seating on board are reserved for those with special needs, those pregnant or carrying young children. It also has special floor markings to enable blind people to navigate Metro platforms.
Metro attendants will be at hand both on the trains and in the stations to ensure assistance is given where required.
Useful Information for Dubai Metro Users.
- Food outlets are expected to be located in the Metro Stations, however the RTA reports it is against the Municipal by-law to eat or drink on board the trains.
- Mobile phone and wireless internet services will be available on all trains during travel times and stationary periods. However, respect for other passengers is expected regarding use of same and also the use of headphones especially during rush hour times.
- Children’s buggies are permitted on board and designated storage areas will be provided.
Bikes are not allowed on board the trains and some stations will have bike storage facilities. - Some stations will have car park facilities. Feeder buses will eventually serve the main residential areas; this service will however not be available at launch.
- Only ladies and young children are allowed in the ladies carriage. If these are full then the silver class may be used.
Red Line Stations
- Rashidiya Station
- Emirates Station
- Airport Terminal 3
- Airport Terminal 2
- Al Garhoud Station
- City Centre Station
- Al Rigga Station
- Union Square Station
- Khalid Bin Waleed Station
- Al Karama Station
- Al Jaffiliya Station ( Etisalat Station)
- Trade Centre Station
- Emirates Tower Station
- Financial Centre Station
- Burj Dubai Station
- Business Bay Station
- Al Quoz Station
- Burj Al Arab Station
- Mall of the Emirates Station
- Al Barsha Station
- Tecom Station
- Nakheel Station
- Dubai Marina Station
- Jumeirah Lake Towers Station
- Nakheel Harbour and Towers Station
- Ibn Battuta Station
- Energy Station
- Jebel Ali Industrial Station
- Jafza Station
Green line Stations
- Al Qusais 2 Station
- Al Qusais 1 Station
- Airport Free Zone Station
- Al Nahda Station
- Stadium Station
- Al Quiadah Station
- Abu Hail Station
- Abu Baker Al Siddique Station
- Salahuddin Station
- Union Square Station
- Baniyas Square Station
- Palm Deira Station
- Al Ras Station
- Al Ghubaiba Station
- Saeediya Station
- Khalid Bin Waleed Station
- Oud Metha Station
- Healthcare City Station
- Jeffaf 1 Station
- Jeffaf 2 Station