The seven new metro stations that open for public today complement among other things a number of malls, corporate offices, five-star hotels, and massive business and residential districts; besides providing a smooth ride to around 60,000 passengers.

The seven new metro stations that open for public today complement among other things a number of malls, corporate offices, five-star hotels, and massive business and residential districts; besides providing a smooth ride to around 60,000 passengers.

Each of the seven new stations is a key to the Metro’s growth and has a potential to attract several thousand new commuters. With additional trains and greater frequency, coupled with some of the potential landmarks in the vicinity of each new station, the Roads and Transport Authority expects the average daily ridership to jump from the current 80,000 to 140,000.

We look at each station, one by one, to see where the potential commuters would come from.

Emirates

Located at the Headquarters of the Emirates Airlines, the station’s primary target is the over 15,000 cabin crew of the region’s leading carrier. Other potential landmarks that are located in 1.5km radius of the station and are likely to use it include the RTA Headquarters — being the builders and promoters of the railway, most of its officials and workers are expected to use it, Dubai Duty Free offices and Festival city, for which Emirates is the nearest station as yet.

Airport Terminal 1

No marks for guessing who the target users of this station are! With thousands transiting through the terminal, it remains one of the busiest terminals in the world. Besides helping the Metro become a mode of transport of choice for many business travellers, the station would also give thousands of low-income travellers a safe and smooth ride. They can avoid paying Dhs20 extra for taxis as well as forego the inconvenience of boarding a bus with their luggage. Apart from the prime target of highfliers, the station also has in the vicinity the Cargo Village and five-star hotels like Le Meridien and Al Bustan. It is also the nearest station for the Irish Village and Dubai Tennis Station.

Karama

With around 500,000 people residing in the 1.5km radius, Karama station is expected to be the most significant in terms of footfall. Besides the main area of Karama, whose middle-income residents would love a ride to offices and back home, it is the nearest station for areas like Al Raffa and Al Mankhool. The station also has many landmark attractions in the vicinity. A string of hypermarkets, supermarkets and popular restaurants including Lulu, Manama and Sukh Sagar respectively are lined up around the station. Other landmarks include the Central Post Office, which though looks far, is just a kilometer away.

Emirates Towers

One of the four new stations on Shaikh Zayed Road, this station is a gateway to thousands of executives working both in the Emirates Towers and hundreds of offices in the vicinity. Besides having several hotels – the Crowne Plaza being one, restaurants and shopping outlets, there are a string of banks in the neighbourhood including, HSBC, EmiratesNBD, Habib Bank etc.

Dubai Internet City

Surrounded by the likes of Microsoft, CNN, BBC, Seimens, IBM and many more media and software heavyweights, this station can’t ask for a better company. Name it and you have it. But how many of the highly paid executives working in the Internet City and Media City – the prime targets of the station – would be using it is a question that only time will answer. But the current trend of metro users says there will be many. The station is also the nearest one for the Knowledge Village commuters and many from its burgeoning student community can opt for metro.

Dubai Marina

With around 100,000 residents, Marina is the new Karama of Dubai. The only difference is the height of the buildings, the promenade, and the income of the dwellers. But it too has the feel of a thriving new community. The station aims to serve Marina’s residents, who are expected to use the metro as their primary mode of transport. Tourists putting up in nearly a dozen five-star hotels from the area would also form a major chunk of the people using the station. Some of the best known names in the hotel industry operate from the area including The Westin, Grosvenor House, Ritz Carlton etc. The station also has the distinction of being the closest one to Palm Jumeirah.

Ibn Batuta

Last but not the least, Ibn Battuta station would make life easier for a variety of travellers which include those employed in the nearby industrial area and port as well as thousands of residents of The Gardens and Discovery Gardens residents. Obviously, it will also serve the shoppers travelling to and from Ibn Batuta Mall. Other attraction is the large workforce of DUBAL, who until now were using the next nearest Nakheel Harbour and Tower stations.

• UAE