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28 March 2024

5 news-making events in Dubai Metro's 5-year history

Published
By Majorie van Leijen

Dubai Metro has consistently made the news as residents of Dubai and visitors cannot miss the blue train. The transit system being the joy and pride of Dubai, there have been many events, developments and announcements that easily became the talk of the day.

In celebration of five years of Dubai Metro operations, Emirates 24|7 gathered the top news events that have taken place since the inception of the Metro.

#1. World Record Holder


The Dubai Metro made a triumphant entry into the  Guinness Book of World Records at 9:09:09 pm on 9 September 2009, when the Red Line was inaugurated. Spanning some 52 kilometres, the Dubai Metro's Red Line made it into the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest driver-less Metro line in the world.

Then in February 2012, it broke its own world record when it was declared as the longest driver-less Metro network in the world, spanning 74.69 kilometres.

The record included the lengths of both the Red and Green Lines.

#2. From one to two Metro lines



The opening of the Green Line on Dubai Metro was arguably the most significant development in the 5-year course of operations. After 2 years of operating on the Red Line, the Metro now ran on two lines.

On September 9, 2011, 18 stations on the Green Line were opened simultaneously. The line stretches 23km and intersects with the Red Line at two transfer stations; Union and Burjuman Stations.

Communities on both sides of the Creek that were previously not connected to the transit system were now served by Dubai Metro, and popular tourist districts became more attractive through the easy access provided.

In its first month the Green Line accounted for 1.3 million passengers, a number that has grown rapidly ever since, with 274,481 trips made on the Green line from its inception until July 2014.

The Green Line contributed to a significant increase in the use of Metro overall. One month after its opening, the number of users on the Red Line had increased from 4.7 million per month to 5.5 million per month. The total number of passengers per month increased by 34 per cent.

#3. Dubai Metro Fashion Show

A much happier account of expressive attire onboard Dubai Metro was the fashion show that paraded through a train compartment.

It was on January 23rd, when the region’s first fashion show on a moving train made a ride on Dubai Metro something out of the ordinary. A dedicated Metro ride from Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall Metro station to Nakheel Metro station and back formed the stage.

The event was organised by the Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment (DEPE), in collaboration with the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Bloomingdales, as part of Dubai Fashion 2013.

While the first half of the journey saw day-time fashion being showcased, the return leg to the Dubai Mall was dedicated to evening fashion.

Train seats were reserved for invitees and the train did not stop at stations on the way. Pictures and videos that were published a little later were a treat for the public, though.

#4. 1,110 Taxis to the Rescue



It was not the longest service disruption in Dubai Metro, but it made many headlines due to its unusual nature.

In the evening hours of August 12 this year Metro services were disrupted for an odd two-hour period. The reason, as was told, was a technical failure; nothing that had not happened before.

It was the scene of commuters walking the escape routes, crowding the affected Metro stations and out to the streets in search of alternative transportation.

In case a train is unable to reach the Metro station, passengers can take to the emergency footpaths built next to the Metro track, explained the RTA. As some were indeed unable to get out of the train, queues of people were seen moving along these paths.

That night, 30 buses and 1,110 taxis were sent to the Metro stations to transport the stranded passengers, but on account of some of these commuters alternative transportation was difficult to find, and many of them opted to walk home. The service resumed the same evening.

#5. Tragedy Strikes

It is a moment in history that no institution would welcome... but it so happened that an Indian man chose the Metro tracks to end his life.

On the morning of December 3rd, the dead body of Harish Pujari Mahabla, 36, was found on the tracks of Jumeirah Lakes Tower Metro station.

The speeding Metro struck the man while he was lying on the track, reported local newspapers.

Days later, fingerprints of the deceased matched those of the 36-year-old who had been reported missing after a staff party of his company.

The state-of-the-art Metro network includes glass doors to separate platforms from the tracks and has secured emergency exits. But the Indian had jumped over the Metro fence and sneaked through the emergency exit to reach the Metro tracks, reported Dubai Police. Since then, security measures have been improved and no more such incidents have occurred.