Residents living in neighbourhoods along Dubai Metro’s Route 2020 said the addition of a new public transport link would save them a lot of time and money on travel.
Homeowners hoped the construction of seven new metro stations, which will open to the public in September, would help raise the value of their property in the future too.
Speaking to The National, long-term residents living near the new stations were relieved to see an end to the years-long construction of the 15km track extension.
Those staying in Discovery Gardens and Al Furjan said they also anticipated an ease in traffic congestion in the usually busy area, as roads that were once closed to aid construction had opened up again.
“We were living in Discovery Gardens since 2010 and moved to Al Furjan in 2017,” said Neha Jain, a homeowner in Azizi Tulip Residence which overlooks the new metro line.
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“We are looking forward to the metro opening up as there will be more ease of movement and metros are time savers.
“Being a homeowner, I am really hopeful that the addition of a metro link will lead to some sort of hike in property value in the future.
“That is one of the main reasons we bought the apartment in 2016.”
On Wednesday, 47 months after construction started on the track, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, inaugurated the metro line.
The Roads and Transport Authority's new Route 2020 line starts from Jebel Ali Station and passes through a number of popular Dubai neighbourhoods including Dubai Investments Park and Jumeirah Golf Estates.
Linked with the main Red Line, it will give commuters direct access to the expo site as well as other areas in the city.
Niyati Priyam, 32, said the new track would “boost connectivity”.
“I was living in Discovery Gardens for six years and moved to Al Furjan two years ago,” the bank worker said.
“I’ve just got used to the construction so to see it coming to an end has been great.
“To have a Dubai Metro station so close to our front door will be convenient when my family comes to visit.
“They won’t have to rely on taxis, which can cost a lot when using them daily.”
Fifty trains will serve passengers across the seven stations when they open at the end of summer. And part of the track, including two stations, will be underground.
After living in Discovery Gardens for five years, sales assistant Adil Nadif said it was good to have the option of “hopping on the metro” instead of having to rely on buses and taxis only. He expects to make the most of the metro on the weekends.
“People living in this area have been waiting a long time for this day, to see it complete is great,” he said.
“I can walk to the station from my house and I’ll use it for leisure purposes, like going to the mall, because I have work transport already.”
Mr Nadif said traffic movement had already eased too, as diversions that were in place during the build phase had now opened up.
Working at Dubai International Airport, Lauren Piquero, 35, said she often socialises with friends in old Dubai.
“I go to Satwa or BurJuman Mall to visit friends and have to take a bus from Discovery Gardens, then connect to a metro along Sheikh Zayed Road,” she said.
“Having a metro station on my doorstep is a big deal for me.
“It will save me more time than money, because I don’t spend much on travel now, but that added convenience is more important for me.”