Dubai sets new record with vertical metro station by Burj Khalifa architects PHOTO

The United Arab Emirates has added another global record to its list of superlatives with the announcement of the world’s highest metro station, set to rise in Dubai under the new Blue Line transit network.

The foundation stone of the station, named Emaar Properties, was laid by the Ruler of Dubai, who has long championed the city’s rapid transit development, Caliber.Az reports via Dubai-based English language newspaper Khaleej Times.

The line is scheduled to open on September 9, 2029 — a date purposefully chosen for its symbolic association with the number nine, a recurring motif in the city’s infrastructure milestones.

Standing 74 meters (242 feet) above ground, the station will span three levels and serve as a new architectural landmark in the city. The structure has been designed by renowned US architecture firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), the same team behind global icons such as the Burj Khalifa, Chicago’s Willis (formerly Sears) Tower, and New York’s Olympic Tower.

The station’s design features a striking portal-like form, symbolising a “gateway to the future,” in line with Dubai’s long-term urban vision. The materials and aesthetics reflect a deliberate blend of modern and traditional elements: warm tones, Jura limestone wall panels, granite flooring, and bronze metals create a sense of both heritage and innovation.

Natural lighting will play a central role in the station’s atmosphere, with glass-panel ceilings flooding the concourse and platforms with sunlight. The platform itself appears to organically emerge from the station’s structure, while a pedestrian bridge will connect commuters to the metro line. The exterior walls, dramatically vertical, contrast with the more enclosed designs of earlier metro stations on Dubai’s Red and Green Lines.

This latest version marks a clear evolution from the Blue Line station model first presented in October 2024, which featured a large oval-shaped enclosure. While that original design departed from the fully enclosed look of older stations, the final version now brings together towering vertical facades with the signature terminal arch familiar to Dubai Metro users.

More than just a transit hub, the station will serve as a micro-community. It will feature electric vehicle charging points, drop-off zones, and parking areas, and will be surrounded by landscaped green spaces. By 2040, it is expected to handle up to 160,000 passengers daily.

By Tamilla Hasanova