Dubai Metro to extend hours this weekend - What's On
The move comes as part of efforts to support the large number of attendees expected at the Global Encounters Festival. What is the Global Encounters Festival?
The Global Encounters Festival 2025 is a major cultural and athletic event taking place at the Dubai World Trade Centre. Organised by Global Encounters, the festival brings together members of the Ismaili Muslim community from around the world to celebrate unity, creativity, and excellence in both the arts and sports. Why the extension matters
With thousands of people expected to attend the festival this weekend, the temporary timetable change will help ease congestion and make travel more convenient for those heading to or from the event. Planning to attend?
If you're heading to the festival, now you can stay later and enjoy more of the programme without worrying about the last train.
Whether you're into culture, community, or just love a good city buzz, this is one event worth showing up for. In other Dubai Metro news
In an exciting move for public transportation in Dubai, construction for the Dubai Metro Blue Line expansion is underway and scheduled for completion in 2029.
*This Dubai Metro Blue Line station will be the tallest in the world*
This massive expansion of the existing network was first discussed back in 2006, along with other potential lines and the expansion of the existing Red and Green lines. In case you missed it, here is the Dubai Metro Blue Line's full list of stations and what to expect.
Image: Archive
> Sign up for FREE to get exclusive updates that you are interested in
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hi Dubai
4 days ago
- Hi Dubai
RTA Opens New Exit Towards Ras Al Khor Road to Ease Congestion Near Bu Kadra Interchange
Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) will open a new exit in early August from the collector road linking Financial Centre Street to Ras Al Khor Road, near Bu Kadra Interchange. This project is part of RTA's Rapid Traffic Solutions Plan, designed to improve road efficiency and ease congestion in high-traffic zones. The new exit reduces peak-hour travel time from 13 minutes to 6 minutes—a 54% improvement—by easing pressure on the Bu Kadra Interchange and facilitating smoother access to Dubai–Al Ain Road. It also supports Dubai's ongoing urban growth and infrastructure development efforts. The project complements other recent enhancements in the Ras Al Khor area, including the widening of Exit 25 from Ras Al Khor Road to Al Khail Road, which increased capacity to 3,000 vehicles per hour and reduced travel time during peak hours from 7 to 4 minutes. News Source: Dubai Media Office
Gulf Today
4 days ago
- Gulf Today
Artists and athletes gather in UAE for festival of unity
Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, inaugurated the Global Encounters Festival 2025 on July 21. To run till July 27, it is a gathering of more than 4,000 young artists and athletes from over 50 countries, uniting in the spirit of collaboration, innovation, and shared humanity. The opening ceremony, held at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), was attended by distinguished dignitaries, including Prince Amyn Aga Khan and Prince Aly Mohammed Aga Khan, alongside over 25,000 visitors from around the world. Held under the patronage of Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Sports Council, the Global Encounters Festival 2025 takes place across multiple venues in Dubai, featuring a programme of art showcases, sports competitions, concerts, exhibitions, and immersive cultural experiences. In his keynote address, Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan said: 'I am pleased to express our country's great pleasure in welcoming so many festival participants from around the world. I am especially pleased to warmly greet and welcome His Highness Prince Aly Mohammed Aga Khan and His Highness Prince Amyn Mohammed Aga Khan. Their respected worldview, and their strong commitment to preserving our Islamic heritage and traditions, are well known. Their presence will certainly enrich this festival.' He added: 'You have assembled in Dubai under our country's welcoming Arab tent that has sheltered a peaceful and innovative population at this global crossroads. This city and this country are showing the world that people from different nations, different ethnicities, different religions, and different cultures can live and work together in peace and harmony, in an environment marked by understanding, respect, and shared values.' Sheikh Nahyan emphasised the UAE's national ethos of coexistence and the role of arts and sports in building bridges across cultures. 'Under the wise leadership of His Highness the President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and the visionary guidance of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum,' he said, 'we in the UAE cherish the bridges that sports and the arts build between peoples and nations.' Reflecting on his past attendance at the Jubilee Games 2016, he said that he was glad to see how much the festival had Festival reflects long-standing engagement between the Ismaili community, the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) and the Gulf region through collaboration with public and private institutions. In a recorded video message, His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan expressed his thanks to the government of the United Arab Emirates for welcoming his community to the city of Dubai, and for the long-standing partnership between the UAE and Ismaili Imamat. He said: 'To fulfil our potential as creatives or athletes is to realise a blessing. Sport and arts are not only beautiful, they have the unique power to build bridges.' Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General of Dubai World Trade Centre Authority, said that 'hosting the Global Encounters Festival aligns with Dubai's wider economic agenda, reinforcing our role as a global platform for innovation, cultural exchange, and human capital development.' Mahir Julfar, EVP of Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) said: 'With over 25,000 visitors expected, DWTC is well-positioned to deliver a world-class experience that matches the ambition and energy of this remarkable youth-led gathering.' 'The Global Encounters Festival exemplifies the spirit of unity, service and excellence that the Ismaili community aspires to worldwide,' said Malik Talib, Chair of the Ismaili Leaders' International Forum (LIF). The Festival also aims to empower the next generation of changemakers by nurturing artists, athletes and civic leaders, who not only pursue excellence, but also drive social impact, climate action, and intercultural understanding. Celebrating diversity across more than 200 nationalities, the Festival aligns with the UAE's Year of Community 2025, promoting inclusion, sustainability and innovation as universal values. From electric rideshares to zero-waste venues and a global tree-planting campaign, sustainability is a cornerstone of the Festival. Thousands of participants are supporting the Roots for Change initiative, pledging to plant 1 million trees globally in alignment with Net Zero 2030 goals.
Dubai Eye
4 days ago
- Dubai Eye
New exit eases traffic congestion around Dubai's Ras Al Khor
A new exit is set to open in early August to ease traffic from Dubai's Financial Centre Street towards Ras Al Khor Road, near the Bu Kadra Interchange. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) says the upgrade is part of its Rapid Traffic Solutions Plan to reduce congestion and enhance road network efficiency in the Ras Al Khor area — a busy zone bordering key industrial and commercial districts. The new exit is expected to cut peak travel times by more than half — from 13 minutes to just 6. It also eases congestion for vehicles heading towards Dubai-Al Ain Road. It follows other improvements in the area, including the widening of Exit 25 from Ras Al Khor Road to Al Khail Road in the direction of Al Meydan Street, which has doubled capacity and trimmed delays during peak hours. The RTA says these changes support Dubai's growing infrastructure needs and long-term mobility goals. RTA will open in early August a new exit from the collector road for vehicles travelling from Financial Centre Street towards Ras Al Khor Road, near Bu Kadra Interchange. This improvement forms part of RTA's Rapid Traffic Solutions Plan, aimed at enhancing road network efficiency… — Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) July 31, 2025
