On May 3, 2026, the Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum of Dubai, officially launched the construction of the Dubai Metro Blue Line tunnel project, marking a critical stage of underground construction for this heavyweight rail transit project.

The Dubai Road Traffic Authority has named the exclusive tunnel boring machine for this project Al Wugeisha. The tunnel project starts from International City Station 1 and is excavated synchronously in three directions. The first equipment is heading towards Mirdif, the second towards the automotive market, and the third enters Valsang International City Station 2.

It is reported that the Al Wugeisha excavator has a length of 163 meters and weighs over 2000 tons, and can operate continuously around the clock, with a daily excavation speed of 13 to 17 meters. The equipment is equipped with advanced systems such as high-precision digital guidance, precise monitoring, and integrated logistics for slag transportation, providing technical support for the high-quality and efficient promotion of the project.

At present, the overall construction of the Dubai Metro Blue Line has been completed by 20%, and over 10000 construction workers, more than 500 engineers, and professional technicians have been deployed on site. The official estimate is that the overall progress of the project will reach 30% by the end of 2026, and the route is scheduled to officially open for operation on September 9, 2029. Keywords: subway, external construction, Middle East

The total investment of Dubai Metro Blue Line is about 5.6 billion US dollars, with a total length of 30 kilometers, including 15.5 kilometers of underground tunnels and 14.5 kilometers of elevated sections. The entire line has 14 stations, including 3 transfer stations, 7 elevated stations, and 4 underground stations. In December 2024, the project design and construction contract will be awarded to the consortium formed by CRRC, Mapa and Limak of Türkiye, and the joint venture of AtkinsRealis and Parsons Corporation will serve as the project management consultant. The deep participation of Chinese enterprises in project construction not only demonstrates the strength of China's rail transit construction, but also builds a new platform for infrastructure cooperation in the Middle East. (This article is from the official website www.seetao.com of Jian Dao. Reproduction without permission is prohibited, otherwise it will be prosecuted. Please indicate Jian Dao website+original link when reprinting.) Jian Dao website video column Editor/Wu Zhiqiang