],equipped with the latest digital guidance and monitoring systems, which has raised the daily boring capacity to approximately 30 metres — more than double the rate achieved less than two decades ago.It confirmed that this technological leap enabled the completion of the first phase of boring works in just two months, an achievement that reflects the major advancement the emirate has witnessed in tunnel engineering and the speed of delivering strategic projects to the highest international standards.The RTA noted that in less than twenty years, engineering capabilities have doubled and the pace of delivery has accelerated, as Dubai continues to cement its status as a global model in infrastructure project execution, affirming that the journey of implementing the Dubai Metro Blue Line is ongoing.The Dubai Metro Blue Line project is one of the most important strategic projects being implemented by the RTA. It connects the Red and Green metro lines and serves areas with an estimated population of around 1 million by 2040. It links those areas with direct journeys to Dubai International Airport in 20 minutes. The project contributes to achieving the targets of the Dubai Urban Master Plan 2040 by connecting the fifth urban area to metro service, enhancing quality of life for residents and visitors, and realising the 20-minute city concept by providing more than 80% of services to residents within 20 minutes of travel. It also supports Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) and Dubai's Economic Agenda D33, with total project benefits expected to exceed 56.5 billion dirhams (AED) through 2040, resulting from time and fuel savings and a reduction in accident fatality rates. The project is also expected to increase land and property values around its stations by up to 25%, in addition to contributing to a 20% reduction in traffic congestion on the corridors served by the Blue Line.
Wednesday, 8 July 2026, 9:21 PM
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in Dubai has announced the completion of the first phase of tunnel boring works for the Dubai Metro Blue Line project, just two months after Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, inaugurated the main drilling operations — a milestone that reflects the accelerating pace of implementation of one of the emirate's largest strategic transport projects.
The RTA stated in a post on its social media platforms that the story of innovation in Dubai begins deep underground before the features of projects appear above it, affirming that the journey of constructing metro stations begins with tunnel boring works that form the foundation of this vital project.
The authority noted that Dubai's experience in metro tunnel boring is not new: it began in 2007 when the RTA commissioned the first tunnel boring machine for the Red Line — a step that represented a qualitative engineering leap at the time. Boring works in that phase took approximately seven months, with a daily average progress of around 12 metres.
The RTA added that Dubai is today writing a new chapter in its infrastructure development, through the use of the giant boring machine
