Dubai Metro’s Green Line gets green light

The Dubai Metro’s Green Line will go online in September, with 16 stations open to the public, the Roads and Transport Authority said yesterday.

The 23-kilometre Green Line, which starts at the Etisalat Station in Al Qusais near Emirates Road, will be missing two stops at first: the Al Jadaf and Creek stations. Those facilities are not scheduled to open because property projects in the area are not complete.

“RTA opted to hold the opening of these stations, though they are ready for operation,” said Mattar al Tayer, the chairman of the board and executive director of the RTA. “This is because of the non-completion of property projects to be served by these two stations and the lack of passengers to use them for the time being,” he said.

Mr al Tayer said the authority would consider opening the stations in the next phase.

The Union and Khalid bin Al Waleed Stations, which are a part of the Red Line, will serve commuters on the new route.

Other stations on the Green Line will include the Al Qusais Station, Airport Free Zone Station, Al Nahda Station, Stadium Station, Al Qiyadah Station, Abu Hail Station and Abu Baker Al Siddique Station.

Salah Uddin Station will be part of the Metro’s eight-kilometre underground passage.

The common Union Square Station on both lines is linked to Salah Uddin and the Baniyas Square stations on the Green Line.

The Palm Deira, Al Ras and Al Ghubaiba stations on the line will have a different design than the others, with a more traditional Arabic feel.

Oud Mehta and Dubai Health Care City which will be used mainly by commuters from hospitals, schools and community clubs in the area, officials said.

Mr al Tayer said they expect a rise in public transport users with the opening of the Green Line.

“It serves a dynamic and high-density commercial, government and residential areas,” he said.

RTA will operate 13 trains in the morning and peak hours, while 10 will run during the off-peak time. Hours of operation will be Saturday through Wednesday, 6am to 10 pm; Thursday from 6am to 11 pm; and Friday from 1pm to 11 pm.