If you’ve ever tried squeezing into the Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall Metro Station during New Year’s Eve or a long weekend, you’ll know the struggle. The good news? Relief is officially on the way.
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is giving one of the city’s busiest metro stations a serious expansion, boosting passenger capacity by a massive 65 per cent. Once complete, the station will be able to handle up to 12,320 passengers an hour, compared to the current 7,250, and as many as 220,000 passengers a day.
The move comes as passenger demand continues to surge, especially during major events, holidays and celebrations. Just to put things into perspective, during New Year’s Eve 2026 alone, the Dubai Metro carried over 1.24 million passengers across its Red and Green Lines, with Downtown Dubai stations taking the biggest hit.
So what’s changing?
The station’s total area will expand from 6,700 to 8,500 square metres, with wider concourses, larger platforms, more escalators and lifts, and additional fare gates. Entry and exit gates will also be separated to keep foot traffic flowing smoothly, a small change that should make a big difference during peak hours.
Pedestrian bridges and station entrances are being upgraded too, along with better integration with other transport options. There’ll even be expanded commercial spaces, making the station feel less like a bottleneck and more like a proper transit hub.
With passenger numbers climbing past 10.5 million in 2024 and showing no signs of slowing down, this upgrade couldn’t come at a better time. Fewer queues, smoother movement, and less elbowing your way through crowds.