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.
“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.”
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid inaugurates Route 2020
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
SHALASH%20THE%20IRAQI
%3Cp%3EAuthor%3A%20Shalash%3Cbr%3ETranslator%3A%20Luke%20Leafgren%3Cbr%3EPages%3A%20352%3Cbr%3EPublisher%3A%20And%20Other%20Stories%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs: 2018 Maserati GranTurismo/GranCabrio
Price, base Dh485,000 (GranTurismo) and Dh575,000 (GranCabrio)
Engine 4.7L V8
Transmission Six-speed automatic
Power 460hp @ 7,000rpm
Torque 520Nm @ 4,750rpm
Fuel economy, combined 14.3L (GranTurismo) and 14.5L (GranCabrio) / 100km
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
The Specs
Price, base Dh379,000
Engine 2.9-litre, twin-turbo V6
Gearbox eight-speed automatic
Power 503bhp
Torque 443Nm
On sale now
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
In The Heights
Directed by: Jon M. Chu
Stars: Anthony Ramos, Lin-Manual Miranda
Rating: ****
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Abu Dhabi World Pro 2019 remaining schedule:
Wednesday April 24: Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship, 11am-6pm
Thursday April 25: Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship, 11am-5pm
Friday April 26: Finals, 3-6pm
Saturday April 27: Awards ceremony, 4pm and 8pm
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.
