Abu Dhabi Metro

Abu Dhabi Metro
Overview
Locale	Abu Dhabi
Transit type	Rapid transit
Number of lines	4
System map

Abu Dhabi Metro is a planned metro system that would be part of a larger transit network for the city of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. First announced in 2008, as of 2024 construction has started but the completion date is unknown.

Plan

The entire transit network will be 131 km long when complete, including an 18-kilometre (11 mi) partially underground metro line, two light rail lines and bus rapid transit.^{[Note 1]} It is expected to cost Dh7 billion.

Phase 1 of the network (60 kilometres (37 mi)) was intended to be completed by 2020, with a further (70 kilometres (43 mi)) in later phases. However, as of August 2024, no contracts have been signed and no construction has started.

The system will be composed of four basic lines:^[1]

• Line  L1  18 kilometres (11 mi) heavy rail rapid transit of which 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) will be underground
• Line  L2  15 kilometres (9.3 mi) light rail with 24 stops
• Line  L3  13 kilometres (8.1 mi) light rail with 21 stops
• Line  L4  14 kilometres (8.7 mi) bus rapid transit loop with 25 stops

The metro will mainly connect the proposed Central Business District with Sowwah Island, Reem Island, Saadiyat Island, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi International Airport, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Masdar City, Capital City District, Emerald Gateway, Zayed Sports City and ADNEC.

Construction

Firms interested in bidding for contracts on phase 1 of the project were due to submit statements of intent to the government by mid June 2013.

The Department of Transport has planned phase 1 for construction in three contracts:^[2]

1. civil works for the above-ground structures (design and build contracts.
2. underground construction work (design and build contracts.
3. the rail system, the rolling stock and the operation and maintenance for the line; (design, build, operate and maintain contracts.)

Contracts are due to be awarded in 2015.^[1] Under the original plan, the first phase was due to be complete by 2015, but is now scheduled to be operational no sooner than 2030.^[3]

From October 2016, the project halted. In August 2018, the Abu Dhabi Department of Transport invited bids for consultancy services for the emirate's metro and light rail projects completed in 2033.^[4]

Notes

1. Some recent online discussions mention a monorail, but it does NOT seem to part of the most recent plan. There was a monorail under discussion in 2006. See: "Monorail News Briefs". Archived from the original on 2013-05-04. Retrieved 2013-06-30.

References

1. "Abu Dhabi Metro and Light Railway Industry Briefing". Norton Rose Fulbright. May 2013. Retrieved 2014-07-03.
2. "Firms plan their bids for Abu Dhabi's Dh7 billion metro and light-rail line". The National. June 10, 2013. Retrieved 2014-07-03.
3. Florian Neuhof (June 10, 2013). "Abu Dhabi trains already running behind schedule as Doha Metro awards $8bn contracts". Arabianmoney. Retrieved 2014-07-03.
4. "Abu Dhabi metro project moves forward". 28 August 2018.

External links

• Abu Dhabi Department of Transport page