Business & Finance Club Magazine - Transportation - Dubai: The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) on Saturday opened three new stations on the Red Line of Dubai Metro, putting the total number of operational stations to 21.

“We are excited... The operations have gone smoothly so far. Opening 21 stations in such a short period of time is no mean feat. There is no such parallel anywhere else in the world,” said Perham Younes Peyman, director of Marketing and Communications, RTA

With a significant increase in metro users with the opening of each new station, the RTA expects to attract new segments of commuters considering the population and developments surrounding the stations at Al Quoz, World Trade Centre and Garhoud.

“We expect to broaden our base with these stations. Considering the location of each of the stations, we hope to get new types of riders on board the metro. The World Trade Centre gets well over a million visitors for its various exhibitions throughout the year,” he added. Also, the GIGCO station at Garhoud is surrounded by a number schools, posh residential communities and showrooms, he noted.

However, according to Peyman, the RTA is most excited about the Noor Islamic Bank station at Al Quoz.

“Noor Islamic Bank station is the latest success story of our naming rights initiative. It shows the attractiveness and the value Dubai Metro brings in in the long run. It’s so powerful that people are willing to associate with it even during these difficult economic conditions,” said Peyman.

Noor Islamic Bank, World Trade Centre and GIGCO stations together are expected to bring in 13 -14,000 more metro users daily.

With 21 stations operational now, Dubai Metro expects to attract 140,000 users everyday.