DUBAI // The Dubai Metro's Green Line will go online in September, with 16 stations open to the public, the Roads and Transport Authority said yesterday.
The 23-kilometre Green Line, which starts at the Etisalat Station in Al Qusais near Emirates Road, will be missing two stops at first: the Al Jadaf and Creek stations. Those facilities are not scheduled to open because property projects in the area are not complete.
"RTA opted to hold the opening of these stations, though they are ready for operation," said Mattar al Tayer, the chairman of the board and executive director of the RTA. "This is because of the non-completion of property projects to be served by these two stations and the lack of passengers to use them for the time being," he said.
Mr al Tayer said the authority would consider opening the stations in the next phase.
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Also
• Metro's midnight run before bed
• Going public with a greener commute, a Dubai experiment
• Dubai residents to ditch their cars for a day
• Commuters can also pay fares with new card
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The Union and Khalid bin Al Waleed Stations, which are a part of the Red Line, will serve commuters on the new route.
Other stations on the Green Line will include the Al Qusais Station, Airport Free Zone Station, Al Nahda Station, Stadium Station, Al Qiyadah Station, Abu Hail Station and Abu Baker Al Siddique Station.
Salah Uddin Station will be part of the Metro's eight-kilometre underground passage.
The common Union Square Station on both lines is linked to Salah Uddin and the Baniyas Square stations on the Green Line.
The Palm Deira, Al Ras and Al Ghubaiba stations on the line will have a different design than the others, with a more traditional Arabic feel.
Oud Mehta and Dubai Health Care City which will be used mainly by commuters from hospitals, schools and community clubs in the area, officials said.
Mr al Tayer said they expect a rise in public transport users with the opening of the Green Line.
"It serves a dynamic and high-density commercial, government and residential areas," he said.
RTA will operate 13 trains in the morning and peak hours, while 10 will run during the off-peak time. Hours of operation will be Saturday through Wednesday, 6am to 10 pm; Thursday from 6am to 11 pm; and Friday from 1pm to 11 pm.
[ aahmed@thenational.ae ]
Confirmed bouts (more to be added)
Cory Sandhagen v Umar Nurmagomedov
Nick Diaz v Vicente Luque
Michael Chiesa v Tony Ferguson
Deiveson Figueiredo v Marlon Vera
Mackenzie Dern v Loopy Godinez
Tickets for the August 3 Fight Night, held in partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi, went on sale earlier this month, through www.etihadarena.ae and www.ticketmaster.ae.
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
The biog
Favourite books: 'Ruth Bader Ginsburg: A Life' by Jane D. Mathews and ‘The Moment of Lift’ by Melinda Gates
Favourite travel destination: Greece, a blend of ancient history and captivating nature. It always has given me a sense of joy, endless possibilities, positive energy and wonderful people that make you feel at home.
Favourite pastime: travelling and experiencing different cultures across the globe.
Favourite quote: “In the future, there will be no female leaders. There will just be leaders” - Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook.
Favourite Movie: Mona Lisa Smile
Favourite Author: Kahlil Gibran
Favourite Artist: Meryl Streep
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Xpanceo
Started: 2018
Founders: Roman Axelrod, Valentyn Volkov
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: Smart contact lenses, augmented/virtual reality
Funding: $40 million
Investor: Opportunity Venture (Asia)
Company profile
Date started: January 2022
Founders: Omar Abu Innab, Silvia Eldawi, Walid Shihabi
Based: Dubai
Sector: PropTech / investment
Employees: 40
Stage: Seed
Investors: Multiple
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
Results for Stage 2
Stage 2 Yas Island to Abu Dhabi, 184 km, Road race
Overall leader: Primoz Roglic SLO (Team Jumbo - Visma)
Stage winners: 1. Fernando Gaviria COL (UAE Team Emirates) 2. Elia Viviani ITA (Deceuninck - Quick-Step) 3. Caleb Ewan AUS (Lotto - Soudal)
The specs: 2018 Infiniti QX80
Price: base / as tested: Dh335,000
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 400hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 560Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.1L / 100km
The Transfiguration
Director: Michael O’Shea
Starring: Eric Ruffin, Chloe Levine
Three stars
If you go
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct to Nairobi, with fares starting from Dh1,695. The resort can be reached from Nairobi via a 35-minute flight from Wilson Airport or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, or by road, which takes at least three hours.
The rooms
Rooms at Fairmont Mount Kenya range from Dh1,870 per night for a deluxe room to Dh11,000 per night for the William Holden Cottage.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Haltia.ai
Started: 2023
Co-founders: Arto Bendiken and Talal Thabet
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: AI
Number of employees: 41
Funding: About $1.7 million
Investors: Self, family and friends
MATCH INFO
Euro 2020 qualifier
Russia v Scotland, Thursday, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports