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Dubai Metro upgrade: Busiest station in city set for major expansion

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6 months ago

June 23, 2025

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If you’ve ever squeezed your way through Burj Khalifa-Dubai Mall Metro Station during New Year’s Eve or a long weekend, you’ll be thrilled to hear this: A massive expansion is on the way to make your commute smoother and quicker.

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), in partnership with Emaar Properties, has just announced that the station, one of the city’s busiest and most popular, is getting a major facelift. The upgrade will boost its capacity from 7,250 to 12,320 passengers per hour. That’s a 65 per cent increase.

The upgrade comes as the city gears up to accommodate a growing number of residents, tourists, and event-goers, especially during big celebrations like UAE National Day and New Year’s Eve, when crowds surge past 110,000 at this station alone.

Here’s what’s changing:

The station’s area will increase from 6,700 to 8,500 square metres
Daily capacity will reach up to 220,000 passengers
More escalators and elevators to ease crowd flow
Separate gates for entry and exit to streamline movement
Wider concourse and platform areas
Enhanced pedestrian bridges and easier access
More fare gates and retail spaces

Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the RTA Board, said the move is a direct response to the steady rise in metro usage at this stop, which connects commuters to Downtown Dubai, Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall, and the bustling Boulevard.

The numbers prove it:
From 6.13 million passengers in 2013, the station jumped to over 10.57 million in 2024, that’s nearly 58,000 people passing through every single day.

Related Topics:burjkhalifametro Dubai dubaimallmetro dubaimetro emaar metrostation metroupgrade public transport RTA stationexpansion

Michael Gomes

With over 35 years of experience in journalism, copywriting, and PR, Michael Gomes is a seasoned media professional deeply rooted in the UAE’s print and digital landscape.

News

Dubai-India travel: Security procedures triggered for Emirates flight following bomb threat email, flight lands safely

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1 day ago

December 5, 2025

Michael Gomes

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Authorities at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport activated full emergency protocols on Friday after receiving a bomb threat email linked to Emirates flight EK526 travelling from Dubai (DXB) to Hyderabad (HYD).

According to GMR officials, the threat email landed in the airport’s customer support inbox around 7.30am on December 5. Despite the alert, the flight continued under strict monitoring and landed safely at 8.30am.

Once on the ground, the aircraft was immediately moved to an isolated bay. Passengers were safely deboarded, and security te

ams carried out standard bomb threat checks. Investigations are currently underway.

Emirates confirmed the incident in a statement to local media, saying authorities had alerted them to a “potential security threat” to EK526.
“All standard security procedures were implemented by the relevant local authorities with full co-operation from Emirates’ ground teams,” the airline said, adding that “the safety and well-being of passengers and crew remain the highest priority.”

Authorities say all threats are being investigated, and extra security measures remain in place at the airport.

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Driving through Abu Dhabi this week? Here are the road closures you need to know about

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1 day ago

December 5, 2025

Michael Gomes

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Abu Dhabi motorists can expect some delays over the next few days, with the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) announcing a series of partial road closures across key routes in the capital. Drivers are being urged to plan, allow extra travel time, and follow diversions to avoid congestion.

Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Street

A major set of phased lane closures will take place near Sheikh Zayed Bridge from Tuesday, December 9 to Monday, December 22, 2025.

Three left lanes will be closed from 12am on December 9 until 10pm on December 15.
Two right lanes will then shut from 10pm on December 15 until 6am on December 22.

Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Street

Another temporary closure is scheduled on Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Street from 5pm on December 5 until 5am on December 8.

Authorities explained that these restrictions are part of ongoing road enhancement projects designed to improve traffic flow and safety across the city. Motorists are encouraged to use alternative routes wherever possible during the maintenance period.

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Sharjah Police give deadline to remove National Day stickers, or face fines

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1 day ago

December 5, 2025

Michael Gomes

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If your car is still sporting National Day decals, it’s time to take them off. Sharjah Police have announced that all vehicle owners must remove their UAE National Day celebration stickers by Saturday, December 6, and those who miss the deadline will face violations.

The reminder follows a crackdown during the 54th Eid Al Etihad celebrations, where authorities impounded 106 vehicles and nine motorbikes for dangerous and irresponsible behaviour on the roads.

According to Sharjah Police, the violations included:

Creating loud noise and disturbing residents
Driving recklessly and endangering others
Operating vehicles without a valid licence

Police officials urged motorists to celebrate responsibly and avoid turning festivities into safety risks.

However, there has been a shift in decorating trends this year. Many residents opted for cleaner, simpler, more elegant designs to showcase their UAE pride ahead of the long weekend, and demand for custom decals surged.

Authorities are now urging residents to ensure all celebratory stickers and decorations are removed by the set deadline to keep roads safe and avoid penalties.