Dubai’s Executive Council has approved a project to extend the Dubai Metro’s Route 2020 to Al-Maktoum International Airport City, with passenger services scheduled to begin operations in 2031.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, announced the decision following a council meeting held during the UAE Government Annual Meetings 2026.

The rail project forms part of a package of strategic schemes worth over AED11bn ($3bn) approved by the council.

The wider approvals include a comprehensive framework to upgrade community facilities and public services by 2040, with priority given to residential communities for UAE citizens.

Hamdan bin Mohammed chaired a meeting of the Executive Council of Dubai as part of the UAE Government’s Annual Meetings. During the session, he approved a budget exceeding AED 11 billion for new strategic projects in Dubai, a comprehensive plan to develop community services and facilities, and the extension of the Dubai Metro to Al Maktoum International Airport. Furthermore, he endorsed the findings of a study on the future of Dubai’s real estate market.

The project approval follows the procurement of detailed design work for the rail link. In September that Dubai’s Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) had awarded US-based engineering consultancy Aecom the design contract for the Route 2020 extension.

The planned extension will run for about 3 kilometres from the existing Expo 2020 terminus station to connect directly with the West Terminal of Al-Maktoum International airport. The scheme will add two new stations to the network.

The existing Route 2020 corridor is a 15km spur that branches off the Dubai Metro Red Line at Jebel Ali station. It comprises 11.8km of elevated viaduct and 3.2km of underground track, serving five elevated and two underground stations.