Dubai metro takes off 10, September 2009
Posted by thegulfblog.com in The Emirates.Tags: Dubai metro, Dubai metro launch, Mall of the Emirates
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At exactly 09.09.09 on 09.09.09 the ruler of Dubai and Vice President of the Emirates Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid swiped his metro pass and boarded the first metro service in the Gulf. Along with countless other VIPs, followed by a train full of people who had won a ‘golden ticket’ to take part in the event, the service left – where else – the Mall of the Emirates on the way to Rashidiya station.
The $7.6 billion system is expected to put a dent in the staggering levels of congestion on Dubai’s roads. So far, the system is working perfectly and many of those interviewed by local press maintain that they will use it instead of their cars. This, however, remains to be seen.
The Gulf blog 
[…] firmly back to earth by threats to the completion of its new, highly publicised and much vaunted metro system. Essentially, it appears that the Dubai government has not paid its Japanese contractors […]