Burj Khalifa Dubai Mall Metro Station Expansion To Boost Capacity

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority has agreed with Emaar Properties to expand Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall Metro Station, responding to steady passenger growth during New Year’s Eve, religious events, national holidays and large gatherings. The upgrade will extend station space, ease crowd movement, and lift passenger handling capacity by 65 percent to support current and future Dubai Metro demand.

The project will enlarge the station from 6,700 square metres to 8,500 square metres and widen concourse and platform zones. Plans include extra escalators and lifts, reconfigured entrances and pedestrian bridges, and more fare gates with separate entry and exit lanes. Commercial spaces will also grow, alongside landscaping and improved links with other public transport and mobility services.

Once work is completed, peak throughput at Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall Metro Station will rise from 7,250 passengers per hour to 12,320 passengers per hour. This 65 percent increase will enable the station to handle up to 220,000 passengers a day. The upgrade targets heavy use during New Year’s Eve and major public holidays across the Downtown Dubai district.

Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall Metro Station has carried growing ridership since opening in early 2010, with gains across most years. Passenger numbers grew from 6.13 million in 2013 to 7.254 million in 2016, then rose further to 7.885 million in 2019, averaging about 43,000 inbound and outbound passengers daily at that time.

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Usage expanded again after 2019. Ridership reached 8.827 million passengers in 2022 and then exceeded 10.202 million passengers in 2023, equal to an average of 56,000 passengers each day. In 2024 the station handled more than 10.577 million passengers, with the previous year recording additional growth to nearly 11 million passengers, reflecting a 7.5 percent increase over five years.

The agreement between Roads and Transport Authority and Emaar Properties was signed by Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority, and by Mohamed Alabbar, Founder of Emaar and Noon and Chairman of Eagle Hills. The signing took place during the Dubai World Project Management Forum, attended by officials from both organisations.

Mattar Al Tayer stated, "The agreement with Emaar embodies the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, to strengthen partnership and integration between the public and private sectors." Al Tayer linked the expansion to Dubai’s wider strategy of aligning infrastructure investments with population, tourism and economic growth.

Al Tayer explained that Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall Metro Station serves as one of the main hubs on the Dubai Metro network, due to its position near Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall and the broader Downtown Dubai area. The station is described as the most convenient option for residents and visitors travelling to these destinations, especially on crowded celebratory and holiday days.

Al Tayer added, "Increasing the station’s capacity by 65 percent, and raising its daily handling capability to up to 220,000 passengers, will deliver a qualitative leap in metro services in the Downtown Dubai area, especially during peak periods such as New Year’s celebrations and national and religious holidays." Al Tayer noted that this supports Dubai’s aim to maintain efficient mobility during major events.

Mohamed Alabbar said the cooperation with Roads and Transport Authority illustrates how public–private partnerships can support sustainable urban expansion and help Dubai keep pace with rising numbers of visitors, shoppers and tourists. "Emaar will continue working with its strategic partners to develop an integrated ecosystem of destinations and services that position Downtown Dubai as one of the most accessible areas, offering the highest quality of life and remaining among the world’s most attractive urban destinations," he noted.

The Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall Metro Station expansion is set to enhance the experience of commuters, shoppers and tourists travelling to Downtown Dubai from across the emirate and the wider region. Higher capacity, redesigned circulation paths and stronger integration with surrounding transport systems are intended to support Dubai Metro operations as demand continues to rise over coming years.

With inputs from WAM