Dubai Announces $9bn Underground Metro Gold Line to Serve 1.5 Million Residents

Dubai has revealed plans for a major new transport project: a Dh34 billion ($9 billion) Metro Gold Line designed to serve more than 1.5 million residents. Spanning 42km, it is being described as the largest transport initiative in the emirate’s history.

Announced by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, the expansion will pass through 15 key districts and connect with numerous real estate developments as well as the upcoming Etihad Rail passenger network. The fully underground line will increase the Metro system’s length by 35 per cent and is scheduled to open on September 9, 2032, marking 23 years since the Metro first launched in 2009.

The new line will run at a depth of about 40 metres and link strategic areas across the city, supporting mobility across 55 major development projects currently under way. The project underscores Dubai’s continued investment in long-term infrastructure and urban growth.

The Gold Line will feature 18 stations and form the emirate’s first fully integrated underground route. It will stretch from Al Ghubaiba in Old Dubai to Jumeirah Golf Estates, connecting with the existing Red and Green lines as well as Etihad Rail. Key المناطق along the route include Mina Rashid, City Walk, Business Bay, Mohammed Bin Rashid City, Nad Al Sheba, Meydan, Al Barsha South, and Jumeirah Village Circle.

It will also link to Etihad Rail stations at Jumeirah Golf Estates and a future station in Meydan. In addition, a planned high-speed rail connection between Expo City Dubai and Ras Al Khor will intersect with the wider Metro network.

By 2040, the Gold Line is expected to carry up to 465,000 passengers daily. Its tunnel system will be twice the size of the current Metro tunnel infrastructure, helping support Dubai’s goal of shifting commuters from cars to public transport.

This project builds on the ongoing expansion of the Metro network, including the Blue Line, which is due to open in 2029. The Blue Line will add 30km of track and 14 stations, serving areas such as Mirdif, Dubai Silicon Oasis, and Dubai Creek Harbour.

With the addition of both the Blue and Gold lines, the Metro network will expand from 120km to 162km, and the number of stations will grow from 67 to 85.

Officials say the Gold Line will deliver strong economic benefits, with an estimated 430 per cent return on investment through time and fuel savings, reduced accidents, and lower carbon emissions. It is also expected to boost property values along its route and ease congestion by cutting around 40 million car journeys each year.

Construction is expected to begin after contracts are awarded in 2027, with tenders set to be issued this year. Advanced tunnel-boring technology will be used to minimise disruption during development.

Since opening in 2009, the Dubai Metro has carried more than 2.8 billion passengers. Today, it serves about one million users daily and accounts for roughly 40 per cent of all public transport trips in the emirate.