Building the Dubai Metro
EXPO2020 Metro Station
The following collection of photos shows the transformation of desert in South Dubai into the Dubai Metro EXPO2020 Station. Concept design started in 2014 and we broke ground on the Project in August of 2016. Given the setbacks related to the global pandemic of 2020, the station eventually opened to the public in 2021 and was a key part in delivering passengers to what was then, the remote EXPO site. What was to follow, was another Dubai RTA Transportation landmark. A first of its kind in the UAE and I'd venture to say in the whole of the GCC. I was fortunate enough to be on this project from the proposal to win the work and eventually was tasked to sign the Taking Over Certificate (TOC) marking the final handover of all of the works to the Project Owner the RTA.
I do recall first visiting the site in 2015, we needed a satellite view to orient ourselves on site as there were no distinguishable features. The heat in the sand melted the adhesive in my shoes cause the soles to fall off later that day. That was first of several pairs of shoes that succumbed to the elements. I'm sure that story held true for so many others. The scorching heat of up to 48C (120F), dust and eventually masks to curb the spread of covid made for some very hard conditions.
This collection of photographs is dedicated to those men and women who made this vision a reality. Every last one, from cleaner to driver, from labor to foreman, from manager to staff, you all have a lot to be proud of.
*Final photos of the EXPO Station will be featured in a separate collection.
Site handover to the Contractor on the 2nd day on the job. We all took photos of a featureless terrain for purposes unclear. What were we actually documenting other than this barren landscape
Demarcating the areas for the station was the first order of business. The Contractor began to install hoarding and soon discovered that vehicles would get bogged in the soft sand
The size of the first pile cap was stupendous. I remember it really left an impression in my mind recognizing that we still had hundreds more to go.
Piling and viaduct works began at the southernmost part of the land in airport land. There was nothing there other than some cranes in the distance
Workers breaking their fast during Ramadan.
