Asan Tata— November 11, 2026Dubai has approved the Dubai Metro Al Maktoum Airport extension. On 10 November 2026, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, approved a Dh2 billion extension of the Dubai Metro to Al Maktoum International Airport City, with passenger services scheduled to begin in 2031.
The project adds a 3-kilometre extension to the existing Route 2020 line, with two new stations. It will run from the Expo 2020 terminus at Expo City Dubai to the West Terminal of Al Maktoum International Airport, known as DWC. For the first time, Dubai’s Metro network will reach an airport that is being built to become the largest in the world by passenger capacity.
This guide explains what was approved, the route and the stations, when trains will start running, and how the line will connect with other transport.
Quick Answer
Dubai Metro will extend 3 kilometres from Expo City Dubai to the West Terminal of Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC), with two new stations, at a cost of Dh2 billion. The project was approved on 10 November 2026 by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and services are scheduled to begin in 2031. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and the Dubai Engineering Projects Establishment will deliver the project.
What Was Approved
The approval came during a meeting of The Executive Council of Dubai, held as part of the UAE Government Annual Meetings 2026. Sheikh Hamdan chairs the Executive Council. He announced the decision in a post on X, calling Al Maktoum International Airport City “one of our most significant strategic projects, reinforcing Dubai’s position as a global aviation hub”.
The Metro extension was one of several strategic projects approved at the same meeting, worth more than Dh11 billion in total. The Metro extension itself carries a budget of Dh2 billion, about $545 million. It is a short extension, but it closes an important gap: until now, no Metro line has reached Al Maktoum International Airport.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Project | Dubai Metro Route 2020 extension to Al Maktoum International Airport City |
| Approved | 10 November 2026, by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum |
| Budget | Dh2 billion (about $545 million) |
| Length | 3 kilometres |
| New stations | Two |
| Start point | Expo 2020 station, Expo City Dubai |
| End point | West Terminal, Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) |
| Services begin | 2031 |
| Delivered by | Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Dubai Engineering Projects Establishment |
Dubai Metro Al Maktoum Airport Route: Expo City Dubai to the West Terminal
The extension continues the Route 2020 line beyond its current end point. Route 2020 is the 15-kilometre extension of the Dubai Metro Red Line that runs from Jebel Ali Metro Station to Expo City Dubai. It was inaugurated six years ago by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
From the start, Route 2020 was seen as a future link between several Dubai communities and Al Maktoum International Airport. The new approval turns that plan into a funded project. Anyone on the Red Line will be able to travel through Jebel Ali and Expo City Dubai and continue directly to the airport, without changing to a bus or a taxi for the last part of the trip.
Two New Stations and a 3km Link
The extension will have two new stations. Their names have not been announced yet, and neither has the exact alignment of the 3-kilometre route. What is confirmed is the start and end points, the length, the number of stations and the opening year. Fares, journey times and service hours have not been announced either. These details usually follow later, once design and construction work is further along.
Why the Link Matters
The Metro extension matters because of the scale of the airport it will serve. Al Maktoum International Airport is being developed as Dubai’s main aviation hub, and Dubai plans to move all commercial flights from Dubai International Airport (DXB) to the new airport between 2032 and 2035.
A Metro link gives that airport a public transport connection from the day its first phase opens. Passengers will be able to reach the airport from across Dubai on the Metro network. Airport staff, who will number in the tens of thousands, will have a daily commute that does not depend on a car. The extension will also reduce reliance on private vehicles in and around the airport city.
Connections: Airport Express Line and Etihad Rail High-Speed Rail
The new Metro extension will not stand alone. At the West Terminal it will link with two other rail projects: the airport express line and Etihad Rail’s high-speed rail network. Together, they will turn the airport into a major transport interchange.
The airport express line is a separate proposed line that will link Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC). It is not the same project as the Metro extension, and it has its own timeline. Once both are running, a passenger will be able to travel between Dubai’s two airports by rail.
Etihad Rail’s high-speed rail network will also connect the airport with other emirates. The high-speed line is planned to link Abu Dhabi and Dubai in about 30 minutes, so a passenger landing at DWC could reach Abu Dhabi by rail.
Al Maktoum International Airport: The Airport It Will Serve
Al Maktoum International Airport, also known as Dubai World Central, sits in Dubai South, about 37 kilometres south-west of central Dubai. In April 2024, Sheikh Mohammed approved a Dh128 billion expansion to turn it into the largest airport in the world by passenger capacity.
The airport is being built in phases. The first phase, with the new West Terminal, is planned to open in 2032 with capacity for 150 million passengers a year. Later phases will raise capacity to 260 million passengers a year, with five runways, over 400 aircraft stands and capacity for 12 million tonnes of cargo a year.
Construction is already under way on a large scale. A second runway is due to open towards the end of 2027. Dubai Airports has said Dh55 billion in new contracts for the expansion will be awarded by the end of 2026, on top of Dh13 billion of works already under construction.
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Expansion approved (Dh128 billion) | April 2024 |
| Second runway opens | End of 2027 |
| Dubai Metro extension services begin | 2031 |
| First phase opens (150 million passengers a year) | 2032 |
| All commercial operations move from DXB to DWC | 2032 to 2035 |
| Full build-out (260 million passengers a year) | Later phases, into the 2050s |
The Metro extension is timed to open a year before the airport’s first phase. That means the rail link should be ready when the first passengers arrive at the new terminal.
The Bigger Package: Dh11.59 Billion of Dubai Projects
The Metro extension was approved alongside a wider set of projects worth Dh11.59 billion in total. The largest is the Dh9.59 billion plan to develop community services and facilities across Dubai through 2040, with priority for residential areas for Emirati citizens.
The same meeting also approved the findings of a study on the future of Dubai’s real estate market, and Sheikh Hamdan directed work to diversify the investment policy for funds held for minors and endowments. He said: “Guided by Mohammed bin Rashid’s vision, we remain committed to improving quality of life in Dubai and strengthening its global competitiveness.”
What This Means for Travellers
For most readers, the practical effect of this announcement is still years away. The Metro will not reach the airport until 2031, and the airport’s first phase opens in 2032.
From 2032, Dubai’s main airport will be Al Maktoum International. Passengers who fly from Dubai will need to reach Dubai South rather than the current airport at Garhoud. The Metro extension means they will be able to do that on the Red Line, with no change of transport at the end of the journey.
Workers and residents around Dubai South
The airport city is expected to support a large workforce and new residential communities. A Metro link makes it easier for staff to reach work and for residents to reach the rest of Dubai.
What to do until 2031
Until the extension opens, Al Maktoum International Airport has no Metro connection. Travellers using DWC today should plan their journey by taxi, bus or private car, and allow extra time because the airport is about 37 kilometres from central Dubai.
How the Dubai Metro Network Will Look
The extension builds on a network that has grown steadily since the Metro opened in 2009. The Red Line runs from Centrepoint (formerly Rashidiya) in the east to Jebel Ali and Expo City Dubai in the south-west. Route 2020 added 15 kilometres and seven stations to the Red Line in 2021, serving communities such as Jebel Ali, Dubai Investments Park and Expo City Dubai.
With the new extension, the Red Line will run all the way to the West Terminal of Al Maktoum International Airport, where it will connect with the airport express line and Etihad Rail’s high-speed rail. For passengers, the key point is simple: one line, the Red Line, will link the airport with Dubai Marina, Downtown Dubai, Deira and the rest of the network.
What Is Still Unknown
Several details are still to come. The names of the two new stations have not been announced. The RTA has not published a start date for construction, a journey time from Expo City Dubai to the airport, or a fare for the new section.
The airport express line, which will link DXB and DWC, is a separate project with its own timeline, and no opening date has been confirmed for it. The same applies to the high-speed rail connection at the airport. Readers should treat any dates for those projects with care until the RTA, Dubai Airports or Etihad Rail confirms them.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the Dubai Metro reach Al Maktoum International Airport?
Services on the new extension are scheduled to begin in 2031. The extension was approved on 10 November 2026. No opening date within 2031 has been announced yet.
How long is the new Metro extension, and how many stations will it add?
The extension is 3 kilometres long and will add two new stations. It runs from the Expo 2020 station at Expo City Dubai to the West Terminal of Al Maktoum International Airport.
How much will the Dubai Metro airport extension cost?
The project has a budget of Dh2 billion, about $545 million. It is part of a wider package of Dubai projects worth Dh11.59 billion approved at the same Executive Council meeting.
Which Metro line will serve Al Maktoum International Airport?
The Red Line, through its Route 2020 section. Route 2020 is the 15-kilometre extension of the Red Line from Jebel Ali to Expo City Dubai. The new 3-kilometre section continues that line to the airport’s West Terminal.
Will the Metro connect with other trains at the airport?
Yes. At the West Terminal, the Metro extension will link with the airport express line, which will connect Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC), and with Etihad Rail’s high-speed rail network.
When will Al Maktoum International Airport open?
The first phase of the expanded airport is planned to open in 2032, with capacity for 150 million passengers a year. Dubai plans to move all commercial operations from Dubai International Airport to Al Maktoum International Airport between 2032 and 2035. The full build-out, with capacity for 260 million passengers a year, will take longer.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only. Project dates, station names, fares and journey times may change as work progresses. Check the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) or Dubai Media Office for the latest official updates before planning a journey.
Sources: Khaleej Times, Gulf News, The National and Emirates 247 / WAM (10 November 2026); Dubai Airports announcements on the Al Maktoum International Airport expansion.
Last Updated: 11 November 2026
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