The Dubai Metro is the flagship Project of the RTA. Planning of the $4.2 billion Dubai Metro project began keeping in mind the rapidly growing population (expected to reach 3 million by 2017), the 15 million projected visitors and the traffic jams in the city. Work officially commenced on the construction of the metro on March 21, 2006. Since its inception on 09-09-09 till the end of last March, Dubai Metro has lifted about 13.68 million passengers and the number of daily ridership is about 80 thousand passengers. The number of the metro users is estimated to hit 35 million passengers in 2010 and is likely to receive a further boost in August 2011 with the operation of the Green Line; which serves vital areas with intense commercial and public activities as well as high population density.

The aims of the metro system are to provide an alternative mode of transport to ease congestion, save passengers traveling time, reduce traffic pollution thereby improving environmental quality, improve mobility within the city, provide connection to Dubai International Airport, and deliver modern, comfortable and reliable services to the Metro users.

The total number of operational stations at present is 18 while three more stations are scheduled to open on May 15. The trains currently run from 6am to 11pm from Saturday to Thursday, and from 2pm to midnight on Fridays. The maximum cost of travel is Dh14 for unlimited trips on the Metro, public buses or water transport in the city. For more details on the metro project visit: http://www.rta.ae/dubai_metro/english/home.html

The 'Journey Planner'
RTA has installed Journey Planner systems at all Metro Stations. The "Wojhati" or Journey Planner enables public transport users to set the right way to travel through real-time and accurate information to determine the most accessible transport mode according to the rider's location, destination and trip time. Once the user enters the station number, the system displays various Dubai Metro lines together with Dubai Map, and offers the user the option to customize the information in a way that suits his or her journey. The system also sets the position of the user within the Dubai Map during the process of planning the journey. The user has just got to log on to the RTA website - www.rta.ae - and insert the destination where he or she will obtain a list of journeys using various public transport modes including information about the journey, names of areas lying across the route, and other geographical information that help users arrive to their destinations.

The Network
When completed, Dubai Metro will have a total of 70 kilometers (43 miles) of lines, and 47 stations (including 9 underground stations) making it the longest fully automated rail system in the world. The trains and stations will be air conditioned with platform edge doors to make this possible.. Two lines - Red and Green - are under construction, and two more are planned. The Dubai Metro is intended to provide transport coverage and reach to all strategic areas of the City, and develop the network to branch out into the suburbs with future extensions.

Launched on 09/09/09
Red Line: The 50 km route was launched with ten stations operational. The ten stations - Nakheel Harbour & Tower, Mall Of the Emirates, Financial Centre, Al Jafiliya, Khalid Bin Al Waleed, Union Square, Al Rigga, Deira City Centre, Terminal 3, and Rashidiya. As at date, there are 18 stations operational. A range of tickets are available for travel from AED 2 for a single trip to AED 65 for a 10 trip 2+ zones ticket. For more information on tickets, please visit www.rta.ae or www.gulfnews.com.

Under construction
Green Line: Over 20 kilometers (12 miles) line with 20 stations from Festival City, through the city centre, Dubai International Airport and the Airport Free Zone.

Proposed
Blue Line: 47 kilometers (29 miles) line along Emirates Road.

Purple Line: 49 kilometers (30 miles) line along Al Khail Road, and is meant to be an express route between Dubai International Airport and the Al Maktoum International Airport Dubai International Airport.