RTA Expands Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall Metro Station Capacity By 65% To Meet Growing Demand

Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), in partnership with Emaar Properties, is set to expand the Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall Metro Station. This expansion aims to meet the increasing passenger demand, especially during New Year's Eve, public holidays, and national events.

The station's area will grow from 6,700 to 8,500 square metres, boosting its hourly capacity from 7,250 to 12,320 passengers — a 65% increase.

Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of Dubai's RTA, stated: "The Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall Metro Station is a key hub in the Dubai Metro network, thanks to its strategic location near Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall, and Dubai Downtown. It serves as a convenient and efficient gateway for residents and visitors, particularly during large-scale events and holidays, particularly New Year's Eve, Eids, national events, and public holidays."

The station has witnessed consistent growth since its inception in early 2010. Al Tayer noted that passenger numbers increased from 6.13 million in 2013 to 7.254 million in 2016. By 2019, this number reached 7.885 million with an average of 43,000 daily boardings and alightings.

In recent years, these figures have continued to rise. In 2022 alone, the station served 8.827 million passengers. This number climbed to over 10.202 million in 2023 with a daily average of 56,000 passengers. By 2024, it exceeded 10.577 million with nearly 58,000 daily boardings and alightings.

The architectural design of the Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall Metro Station mirrors that of elevated stations on Dubai Metro's Red and Green Lines. Inspired by a seashell shape, it maintains an interior design focused on safety and ease of movement while reducing walking distances where possible.

The internal layout ensures visual connectivity with seamless integration at ground-level entrances with public transport options like bicycles and e-scooters. The station also provides direct pedestrian access to surrounding urban areas.

The expansion project includes several enhancements beyond increasing space from 6,700 to 8,500 square metres. These improvements involve upgrading entrances and pedestrian bridges for better access while expanding concourse areas alongside platforms.

Additional escalators and elevators will be installed along with separate entry-exit gates for optimised passenger flow management. The number of fare gates will increase too while commercial spaces are expanded for revenue generation purposes.

This project also integrates various public transport modes alongside landscaping enhancements ensuring smooth connectivity within its vicinity.

The station's design considers inclusivity by catering specifically towards People of Determination as well as senior citizens or parents using strollers among others needing assistance when travelling through this busy hub daily.

With inputs from WAM