The line is the first in the city to be equipped with automatic train operation, and services are operated by eight-car trains, 18 of which are being supplied by a consortium of Kinki Sharyo and Toshiba under two separate contracts.

Line 3 will be built in four phases and when complete, will be 33km long with 29 stations, 27 of which will be underground. The 6.2km second phase from Abbasiya to Al Ahram is under construction, while the third phase will comprise the 7.5km western extension to Embaba, and the 3km branch from Kit Kat to Mohandiseen. The final phase will extend the line east to Alf Maskan and Cairo International Airport, and is due to be completed by the end of the decade.