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.

In a major UAE government move, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, has announced the creation of a new Ministry of Foreign Trade and renamed the Ministry of Economy to the Ministry of Economy and Tourism.

Taking to the social media platform X, Sheikh Mohammed said the decisions were made in consultation with His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE.

“Brothers and sisters, after consultation with my brother, the President of the State, may God protect him, and with his approval, we announce today several changes in the UAE government as follows: The Ministry of Foreign Trade was established in the UAE government and the name of the Ministry of Economy is changed to Ministry of Economy and Tourism,” the Dubai Ruler wrote in his post.  

Key announcements include:

• The establishment of a new Ministry of Foreign Trade, with Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi appointed as the minister.
• The Ministry of Economy is now renamed the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, to reflect its broader scope. Abdullah Bin Touq Al Marri will continue to lead it.
• The National Artificial Intelligence System will become an advisory member of the Cabinet, starting January 2026. It will also join the Ministerial Council for Development and the boards of all federal entities and government-owned companies.

The integration of AI into key decision-making bodies aims to enhance policy efficiency, provide real-time technical advice, and support future-focused governance across sectors.

Sheikh Mohammed emphasised that the move aligns with the UAE’s ongoing commitment to innovation, agility, and strategic leadership at all levels of government.

Planning to fly from Dubai to India soon? Check your flight status before heading to the airport. 

Air India has advised travellers to confirm in advance following the cancellation of several flights, including those from Dubai. 

The move is part of a broader cutback in international operations, as the airline conducts safety inspections across its Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet. The inspections follow a recent tragic crash involving one of the aircraft.

Among the cancelled international routes are:

• AI906 (Dubai–Chennai)
• AI2204 (Dubai–Hyderabad)

Passengers flying on other airlines and looking to connect to their hometowns via Air India should be aware of the suspension of domestic and other international routes, such as:

• AI308 (Delhi–Melbourne)
• AI874 (Pune–Delhi)
• AI456 (Ahmedabad–Delhi)
• AI2872 (Hyderabad–Mumbai)
• AI571 (Chennai–Mumbai)

The cancellations come after Air India announced a 15 per cent cut to international flights operated by its widebody aircraft, effective until at least mid-July. The airline said this temporary reduction is necessary due to ongoing safety inspections following the tragic crash of flight AI171 last week.

Flight AI171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner heading from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, crashed shortly after takeoff, killing 241 people on board and approximately 30 people on the ground. Only one person on the aircraft survived. Authorities continue to investigate the incident.

In a statement, Tata Group-owned Air India said that 26 of its 33 Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 aircraft have passed inspections and have returned to service. The airline said the cuts are meant to ensure stable operations, improve efficiency, and minimise passenger inconvenience.