With the inauguration of the first Dubai Metro line, the Red Line, the peaceful revolution of Dubai’s transport has officially begun, and generates a virtuous cycle that will affect the other six Emirates and the other GCC Countries (Gulf Cooperation Council). A revolution whose cultural aspect must be emphasised, since the Dubai Metro will be the first in the whole Middle-East –certainly an area unacquainted with rail transport.
At the moment the transport revolution is just in its early stage, but will certainly not stop at the Red and Green Lines of the Metro. In fact, another two have actually been approved, the Blue Line, which will link Dubai’s two airports along Emirates Road, and the Yellow Line whose route is still top-secret, which will have to be fully operative by 2015. Of course, very soon, the Metro will offer useful connections with the Palm Monorail – serving the three archipelagos of artificial islands, forming the design of 3 gigantic, striking palms visible from the air – a facility that is already operative and appreciated by both local users and tourists, and whose existing stations will in fact be connected with the Metro.
Besides the development of metropolitan lines, new railway lines will shortly be coming into operation. For the Emirates, and in more general terms for the entire Arabian Peninsula, this will represent the means of transport for the future, in fact interconnecting the various Emirates with each other and with the neighbouring Countries. There are numerous dealings and negotiations currently in progress, as well as agreements between suppliers of raw material, and the actual trains themselves with all their component and rails, mostly commissioned to European heavy industries (but with promising "niches" in Asia as well).
With the opening of Dubai’s first Metro line, attention and interest in rail transport is due to increase exponentially, capable as it is to radically contribute to the reduction of atmospheric pollution caused by carbon dioxide emissions and to the consequent, significant reduction of traffic, traffic jams, inefficiencies and delays. In fact, this is one of the priorities that Dubai’s Authorities had set themselves when deciding to invest in rail transport, in the wake of the trend increasingly characterising the policies of the 7 Emirates making up the Confederation, which is decisively in favour of environmental safeguarding and protection of territory, air and waters, and ready to assume considerable financial burdens in doing so. Over and above these objectives of primary importance, a solution of such intrinsic importance, concerning a means of transport alternative to the motorcar, also represents a significant economic saving, considering the definitively accessible tariffs; the Metro itself, whose detailed prices we list hereunder, is no exception.
All this, however, offering high standards of comfort for commuters (who, among other facilities, will enjoy the benefit of WI-FI internet connection on all carriages), flanked by innovative services made available at all stations: buses (whose lines will be extended and differentiated, with the quantity of vehicles getting almost tripled), abras (traditional dark-wood boats) used for transporting passengers from one bank of the Creek to the other, and modern water taxies, to move with ease in all directions, shops, restaurants, coffee bars, beverage vending machines, banks, ATMs, information kiosks, medical assistance and first aid stations.
Great consideration is also paid to safety; from the very outset, a total of 3,000 closed circuit television cameras will be operative, monitoring all the stations open to the public. In the vicinity of stations, ample parking grounds will be available (in some cases these are already in service) allowing a great number of commuters to leave their vehicles outside the Dubai areas with higher traffic concentration, then continuing their journey via rail transport, saving precious time and avoiding stress.
Bicycles will also be strongly supported as a perfect, ecological, healthy and economical means of transport: in fact, by 2020, an extensive 1,300 km of cycle paths will have been made available, which will also be supported by free-of-charge bicycle-hiring centres. Considering that the territory of the Emirate of Dubai is almost totally flat, anticipations are that the "bike" proposal will meet with great success.
In a vision strongly aimed at protecting collective and environmental health, trams are also planned for Dubai, with their entry into service envisaged for 2015 with the Al Sufouh Line, which will link Marina Mall to the Emirates Mall, besides reaching stations of the Palm Monorail and the Metro (Red Line) as well.
Stations opened since September 10, 2009
- Nakheel Harbour & Tower
- Mall of the Emirates
- Financial Centre
- Al Jafiliya
- Khalid Bin AlWaleed
- Union Square
- Al Rigga
- Deira City Centre
- Airport T3
- Rashidiya Terminal
The 19 stops not yet available at September 10, 2009, will be operative by February next year. Furthermore, the Green Line, connecting Jadafon the Creek with Al Qusaisshould, will also open during June 2010. Extensions to the Red Line will continue as well, reaching Jebel Ali and Abu Dhabi. Subsequently, in 2012, the Purple Line will instead connect Dubai’s Al Maktoum International Airport to the Jebel Ali Airport.
Metro running time table
From Saturday to Thursday: from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Friday: from 2:00 p.m. to midnight
During peak hour traffic, a run will take place every 3 minutes and 45 seconds (after an initial starting up period, during which waiting times will be in the region of 10 minutes).
Tariffs and useful information on season tickets
These consist of rechargeable cards, purchasable from the specific ticket vending machines installed in all metro stations. There are four types of cards, corresponding to the silver, blue, gold and red colours, aimed at meeting the most varied requirements of the resident population and of visitors, travelling for both business and vacation.
- The cost of the Silver card is approx. € 3.76 (Dhs 20), including approx. € 2.63 (Dhs14) worth of credit, aimed at regular travellers, simply needing to go from / to the same point in the city (the usual run from A to B and vice versa). Single trips range from approx. € 0.34 to € 1.10 (from Dhs 1.80 to Dhs 5.80).
- The Blue card costs approx. € 13.17 (Dhs 70), including approx € 3.77 (Dhs 20) worth of credit, and is aimed at those wanting a guaranteed card, without being limited to a fixed section, and which will include online services and fidelity programmes. In this case too, the cost of single trips with the blue card ranges from approx. € 0.34 to € 1.10 (from Dhs 1.80 to Dhs 5.80).
- The Gold card costs approx. € 3.76 (Dhs 20), including € 2.64 (Dhs14) worth of credit: it grants access to the Gold Class with its leather-upholstered seats. Gold tariffs range from approx. € 0.68 (Dhs 3.60) to approx. € 2.19 (Dhs 11.60).
- Finally, a Red card costs approx. € 0.38 (Dhs 2) and is for one trip. Alternatively, approx € 0.75 (Dhs 4) can be paid for a Gold class trip.
Photograph provided courtesy of Imre Solt