In what is poised to become a landmark moment in global transit architecture, the emirate has unveiled plans for the world’s tallest train station, set to open in 2029 as part of the Dubai Metro Blue Line, a transformative £3.6 billion expansion of its existing rail network.

At the heart of this ambitious project is the new Emaar Properties Station, an architectural marvel that will soar to 74 metres (242 feet), redefining what urban infrastructure can look like and represent. Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM)—the American architecture firm behind such icons as the Burj Khalifa, One World Trade Center, and Chicago’s Sears Tower—the station is not only a record-breaking feat of engineering but a bold statement of design, sustainability, and urban connectivity.

A Vertical Landmark in Transit Architecture

Positioned in Dubai Creek Harbour, the station has been described as an “architectural icon” and a “crossing gateway,” with a façade that merges monumental scale and urban elegance. The design centres on a 38-metre-wide glass and stone portal, allowing natural light to cascade into the station during the day, while custom lighting transforms the structure into a glowing beacon by night.

The 11,000-square-metre station will not merely serve as a point of transit—it is designed to be an experiential space that reflects Dubai’s heritage, modernity, and ambitions for the future. The inspiration for its form is drawn from the seashell, a nod to the emirate’s coastal legacy, while its interior speaks in the elemental language of earth, air, fire, and water.

From the exterior’s commanding form to the material palette of Jura limestone, bronze metal panels, granite flooring, and glass ceiling panels, every aspect of the station has been crafted to provide both visual impact and long-term sustainability—an increasingly vital concern for cities operating in desert climates.

Transit Meets Urban Design: Connecting a City in Motion

The Dubai Metro Blue Line—an 18-mile (29km) rail extension—will introduce 14 new stations across the city, including nine elevated and five underground stops. The expansion aims to increase connectivity between major districts, business hubs, and residential areas, including Dubai International Airport, Academic City, and Dubai Silicon Oasis.

At peak operation, the entire Blue Line is projected to serve 320,000 daily riders by 2040, up from an initial 200,000 by 2030. The Emaar Properties Station itself will accommodate up to 160,000 passengers daily, becoming a crucial node in a growing urban ecosystem that prioritises public transit, walkability, and sustainability.

The International City interchange, also part of the new development, will span a colossal 44,000 square metres, capable of handling up to 350,000 passengers a day. It will be the only interchange connecting multiple metro lines, helping to realise Dubai’s broader transport vision of 140 stations by 2040.

Designing for Legacy: Architecture as Experience

As with many of Dubai’s most celebrated projects, the Emaar Properties Station is more than a transportation hub—it’s a destination in its own right. SOM’s architectural vision extends beyond structural impressiveness to material performance, human comfort, and a sense of place.

The soaring interior height, tactile surfaces, and strategic lighting create an immersive environment rather than a purely functional one. The bronze cladding and stone textures offer a contrast to the harsh sunlight, while the glass ceiling channels illumination deep into the structure, reducing reliance on artificial light and enhancing energy efficiency.

Importantly, the design integrates universal accessibility, with disabled parking, bike and e-scooter stands, bus bays, and taxi ranks, ensuring that mobility is inclusive for all, including individuals with a determination status.

Cultural Significance and Civic Vision

The design was officially approved by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, underscoring the project’s civic and cultural importance. During a foundation-laying ceremony on June 9, 2025, Sheikh Mohammed referred to the station as a “gateway to Dubai’s bright future.”

The architectural narrative of Emaar Properties Station echoes Dubai’s larger identity—visionary yet rooted, modern yet timeless. It becomes part of a lineage of global record-setters like Grand Central Terminal in New York or Shinjuku Station in Tokyo, but through a lens that is distinctly Emirati.

Future-Proofing Urban Infrastructure

In addition to design excellence, the Blue Line and its record-breaking station demonstrate Dubai’s continued investment in future-proofing its urban infrastructure. With a population expected to reach nearly 6 million by 2040, the city is moving decisively toward mass public transit as a strategy to combat congestion, reduce emissions, and support rapid growth.

The project also reinforces the increasing importance of design thinking in public infrastructure—an area traditionally defined by function, now being shaped by form, experience, and sustainability. With SOM leading the architecture, and developers like Emaar Properties managing the long-term operation and branding, the station reflects a holistic collaboration between public ambition and private innovation.

A New Chapter in Urban Transit Architecture

Dubai’s Emaar Properties Station marks a significant moment in contemporary architecture and transport design. As the world’s tallest metro station, it doesn’t just raise the bar in terms of engineering; it redefines what transit architecture can achieve, where infrastructure becomes iconography, and function meets futurism.

With its official opening planned for September 2029, the station will stand as a vertical symbol of mobility, ambition, and design excellence. It will invite global travellers, design enthusiasts, architects, and urbanists to witness how cities can move forward—literally and metaphorically—through visionary design.

The World’s Tallest Train Station Rises Over Dubai’s Metro Blue Line