Dubai: The best city to live and work in the world
Dubai Metro Blue Line Project
Sheikh Mohammed inaugurated the main excavation works for the Dubai Metro Blue Line tunnels.
The project, with a cost of Dh20.5 billion, spans 30km — 15.5km underground and 14.5km elevated — and includes 14 stations (3 interchange, 7 elevated, and 4 underground). It will serve nine key districts with an expected population of around one million residents under the Dubai Urban Plan 2040.
The Blue Line will connect with the Green Line at Creek Station and the Red Line at Centrepoint Station. It will serve residential, academic, and development zones, including Dubai Silicon Oasis — an innovation and knowledge hub that supports the growth of the technology and knowledge economy.
The line will enable direct trips to Dubai International Airport in just 20 minutes and is expected to reduce traffic congestion by 20 per cent along its corridors.
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Abdullah Rashid Al Hammadi is an accomplished Emirati journalist with over 45 years of experience in both Arabic and English media. He currently serves as the Abu Dhabi Bureau Chief fo Gulf News.
Al Hammadi began his career in 1980 with Al Ittihad newspaper, where he rose through the ranks to hold key editorial positions, including Head of International News, Director of the Research Center, and Acting Managing Editor.
A founding member of the UAE Journalists Association and a former board member, he is also affiliated with the General Federation of Arab Journalists and the International Federation of Journalists. Al Hammadi studied Information Systems Technology at the University of Virginia and completed journalism training with Reuters in Cairo and London.
During his time in Washington, D.C., he reported for Alittihad and became a member of the National Press Club. From 2000 to 2008, he wrote the widely read Dababees column, known for its critical take on social issues.
Throughout his career, Al Hammadi has conducted high-profile interviews with prominent leaders including UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and key Arab figures such as the late Yasser Arafat and former presidents of Yemen and Egypt.
He has reported on major historical events such as the Iran-Iraq war, the liberation of Kuwait, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the establishment of the Palestinian Authority. His work continues to shape and influence journalism in the UAE and the wider Arab world.