As anyone travelling around Dubai these days know, getting from A to B can be a mission – the traffic is dire! Well that’s all set to change, under the auspices of the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority a new driverless, fully automated urban rail network is under construction.

The first phase, (The Red Line), will connect Salahuddin Road and the American University in Dubai as well as (The Green Line) which will connect Qussais 2 to Jeddaf 1. Work on the first phase is anticipated to be completed by September 2009. There will be extensions to both routes which will form part of phase 2 (completion March 2010). The project will be part of a greater review of all transport provision in Dubai, with integrated bus routes and stops, taxi stations and park-and-ride facilities and of course the Abra (water transport). The Dubai Metro system, when built, will be the longest fully automated rail system in the world.

Ultimately there will be four lines which will use 99 five-car each 75-metres long with seats for 400 passengers. All trains will be fully air-conditioned and will have a carriage for VIPs, women and children. Projected usage is 1.2 million passengers on an average day – that’s 27,000 passengers per hour relating to 355 million passengers per year once the first two lines are built. With an anticipated 15 million visitors by 2010 and Dubai’s population set to increase to 3 million by 2017, the Dubai Metro is sure to be a timely piece of urban planning.

Red Line:

50-kilometre (31-mile) line with 35 stations from Jebel Ali Port, the American University in Dubai, through the city centre, and to the Airport Free Zone.
Green Line: 20-kilometre (12.4-mile) line with 22 stations from Festival City, through the city centre, Dubai International Airport Terminals 1 and 3, and to Rashidiya.

Blue Line:

47-kilometre line along Emirates Road, exact route currently unknown.
Purple Line: 49-kilometre line along Al Khail Road, meant to be an express route between Dubai International Airport and Dubai World Central International Airport.

Proposed Stations (but bear in mind that these may change)