The 10.6km first phase of the line from Dubai Marina to the depot near the Dubai Police Academy will have 17 stations and is expected to transport around 27,000 passengers per day in the first year of operation. This is expected to increase to 66,000 per day when the 4km second phase of the project opens in 2020.
The line is the first in the world to be entirely electrified using Alstom's APS ground-level power supply system. Alstom is also supplying 11 44m-long LRVs for the first phase of the project, with a further 14 vehicles set to be delivered for the second phase.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai, attended the latest round of trial operations this week, riding on a vehicle during a line test and touring the depot.
