Dubai Metro Blue Line has achieved another major milestone in construction with the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announcing that the first phase of tunnel excavation was successfully carried out in just two months. The award recognises the swift advancement of one of the emirate’s biggest public transport initiatives, with state-of-the-art tunnelling technology and digital engineering systems. 

The milestone follows the official launch of the tunnelling works two months ago by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The RTA said that the project has been aided by the latest generation of tunnel boring machines, which have helped engineers to speed up underground work without compromising on precision and safety. 

The authority has attributed the significant increase in construction efficiency to the use of modern engineering methods, which are now much more efficient than those used in the original Dubai Metro project. In 2007, the first metro tunnels were excavated, which took about seven months and around 12 metres a day. The new machinery now enables them to excavate about 30 metres per day, doubling their previous rate. 

Dubai Metro Blue Line Technology Speeds Up Construction

Al Wugeisha is a next-generation 2,000-tonne, 163-metre-long tunnel boring machine that is being used on the Dubai Metro Blue Line. The machine integrates excavation, material removal and automatic installation of lining segments while ensuring the accuracy of the project construction. It integrates the process of excavating, removing soil, and automatically installing tunnel lining segments in a single process, which helps save time and improve construction accuracy. 

The Blue Line will run for around 30 kilometres with 14 stations — underground and above ground — across Dubai. The completed project will link major residential, educational, and commercial areas together as well as tie in with the current Red and Green Metro lines. Overall, the project is anticipated to play a vital role in Dubai’s future urban development and enhance the city’s public transportation system, catering to the needs of its expanding population. The current plans call for more construction activity by 2026 and will have the line open in 2029.