Dubai has approved the construction of the Gold Line, a new metro route that will become the emirate’s most significant transport undertaking to date, with an investment of AED34 billion.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, approved the project and directed its immediate commencement.
The inauguration is scheduled for September 9, 2032 – a delivery timeframe that is 30 per cent faster than that of Dubai Metro’s Blue Line, which is currently under construction.
“Dear brothers and sisters, today we announce Dubai’s largest transport project; a new Dubai Metro line spanning 42 kilometres, at a depth of 40 metres underground. This new route will connect 15 strategic locations in Dubai, serving 1.5 million people and supporting mobility across 55 mega development projects currently under construction,” Sheikh Mohammed said in a statement.
“The AED 34 billion Gold Line project will expand the Dubai Metro network by 35%, with completion scheduled for 9 September 2032. Our major projects to build the world’s best city to live in are ongoing. Our future projects will not stop; rather, they will gather pace. Our mission is to build a better future for millions – for we are a people who say what we do and do what we say,” he added.
The approval for the Dubai Metro Gold Line was made in the presence of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai; Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of the UAE; Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai; Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports, and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group; Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Olympic Committee; Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority; and Sheikh Majid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Also present were Mohammad bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Chairman of The Executive Office of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum; and Mattar Al Tayer, Director General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).
What is the Dubai Metro Gold Line and where will it run?
The Gold Line will be Dubai’s first fully underground metro line, running 42 kilometres at a depth of 40 metres.
It will feature 18 stations across 15 locations, beginning at Al Ghubaiba and passing through Mina Rashid, City Walk, Business Bay, Mohammed Bin Rashid City, Nad Al Sheba, Mohammed bin Rashid Gardens, Meydan, Al Barsha South, Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC), and terminating at Jumeirah Golf Estates.
The line connects to the Red Line at two points – Business Bay and Jumeirah Golf Estates – and to the Green Line at Al Ghubaiba. It also links with Etihad Rail at Meydan and Jumeirah Golf Estates, integrating Dubai into the UAE’s national rail network.
How will the Gold Line affect the Dubai Metro network?
The Gold Line will expand the Dubai Metro from its current 120 kilometres – which includes the Red Line (52km), Green Line (23km), Route 2020 (15km), and the Blue Line (30km, under construction) – to 162 kilometres, a 35 per cent increase. The number of stations will rise from 67 to 85.
Daily passenger numbers on the Gold Line are projected to reach 465,000 beyond 2040, with more than 1.5 million people expected to benefit from it by that year.
It is also projected to reduce journeys on roads by over 40 million annually and ease congestion on the Red Line between Burjuman and ONPASSIVE stations by 23 per cent.
By incorporating loops into its design, the Gold Line will improve movement across short and long distances in key areas, further reinforcing the integration and sustainability of the mass transit network.
Since its launch in September 2009 through to the end of 2025, the Dubai Metro has carried more than 2.8 billion passengers. In 2025 alone, it served 295 million passengers – a 7 per cent increase on 2024 – with a daily average of one million users, accounting for 40 per cent of all public transport use in the emirate.
What is the projected economic return?
“The Dubai Metro Gold Line marks a strategic milestone in the evolution of Dubai’s public transport network, reflecting the leadership’s vision to develop integrated, sustainable infrastructure that fuels economic growth and enhances quality of life. The project facilitates integration of multi-modal transportation, links Dubai’s key urban hubs and addresses the demands of urban and demographic expansion in line with the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan,” Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) explained.
Al Tayer noted that the AED34 billion investment is projected to deliver a cumulative economic return of 430 per cent over 20 years of operation, driven by savings in time and fuel, reductions in road accident fatality rates, and lower carbon emissions. He added that property and real estate values near metro stations could increase by up to 20%.
He also stated that the Gold Line “is set to drive the integration and sustainability of Dubai’s public transport system, further improving the efficiency of the current network and facilitating mobility across the emirate for both residents and visitors.”
Construction timeline
The project is scheduled for tender issuance in 2026, with the contract award expected in 2027, followed by construction leading to the September 9, 2032 inauguration.
Al Tayer highlighted that the Gold Line will use the latest tunnel boring machine technology for its entirely underground construction, ensuring disruption to residents and existing developments is kept to a minimum.
He added that the project “adheres to the highest international standards of quality and safety, as well as speed of delivery.”
The project will be led by Emirati cadres. “The Gold Line embodies RTA’s commitment to adopting international best practices in executing major projects. Led by national talent, the project reaffirms the leadership’s confidence in Emirati cadres and their pivotal role in driving development by delivering landmark achievements that mirror Dubai’s future aspirations,” he said.
