Dubai to launch Metro

Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has officially inaugurated in a graceful ceremony the Dubai Metro's Red Line from the Mall of the Emirates station.

At exactly 09:09 PM on 09, 09, 2009, Sheikh Mohammed swiped the Metro's first ticket and was joined in the first trip by H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Deputy Ruler and UAE Minister of Finance, H.H. Sheikh Majid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Culture and Arts Foundation, Sheikhs, ministers, dignitaries, senior officials and a crowd of media personalities.

The Metro's first stop was the Dubai International Financial Centre Station. Sheikh Mohammed stepped and placed a golden commemorative coin at the station. He was briefed by Matar Mohammed Al Tayer, Board Chairman and CEO of Dubai's Road and Transport Authority (RTA) on the making of the coin to mark the historic event.

Sheikh Mohammed and other dignitaries boarded the Metro again and stopped at the station of Khalid Ibn Al Waleed, the underwater Al Ittihad, Terminal 3 of Dubai Airport and Al Rashidiya.

At Al Ittihad station, Sheikh Mohammed signed a secret letter to the youth of the UAE. The letter was kept in a special container pending its opening at a time decided by him.

At the end of the historic journey, Sheikh Mohammed said the Metro represented “a source of pride to the people of the UAE and the brotherly peoples of the Arab world.” He told reporters that the UAE, under the wise leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, was pressing ahead with its successful march and in its resolute to confront all challenges.

He praised the efforts and perseverance of the RTA team “in putting together this huge achievement which is poised to add value to our national economy and to boost the tourism industry in our country.” - Emirates News Agency, WAM