Dubai Metro turns 17: From 10 stations to a city-wide network

This is hard to believe, but the Dubai Metro turns 17 today. The launch of the Dubai Metro wasn’t just another transport upgrade – it was a city-shaping moment that redefined how millions move across the emirate. The Dubai Metro has grown from a bold experiment into one of the world’s busiest urban rail networks. It moves around 900,000 daily riders each day, according to stats. As of February 2026, the Dubai Metro recorded 294.7 million riders across its Red and Green lines in 2025 – a 7% increase compared with 2024. Want to take a walk down memory lane? Swipe through the gallery for some of Dubai Metro’s most iconic moments. Fun facts: The Red Line was the first to launch, and the official launch took place at 9:09pm on September 9, 2009. The Green Line launched two years later on September 9, 2011. If you want a little history to share with your friends, only 10 Red Line stations were actually operating when Dubai Metro launched on September 9, 2009. The stations included Rashidiya, Terminal 3, City Centre, Al Rigga, Union, Khalid bin Al Waleed (now BurJuman), Al Jafiliya, Financial Centre, Mall of the Emirates and Nakheel Harbour & Tower (now Al Fardan Exchange). Fast forward to 2026, the Red Line now spans 35 stations, including the Route 2020 branch to Expo City Dubai. The Green Line has 20 stations, bringing the current two-line Metro network to 55 stations. The Blue Line was first discussed back in 2006, along with other potential lines and the expansion of the existing Red and Green lines. Plans changed amid the global economic slowdown, but as of 2025, the Blue Line was back on track. The Blue Line will connect to the existing Centrepoint station on the Red Line and to the Creek station on the Green Line. It will include three interchange stations: Al Jaddaf, Al Rashidiya and International City 1.