Reminder: Dubai Metro Red Line to partially close until 'mid 2019' from Friday

The National -- Parts of the Dubai Metro Red Line will be closed from Friday, January 5, until the "middle of 2019", the Roads and Transport Authority said on Wednesday.

Commuters travelling between Jumeirah Lakes Towers and Ibn Battuta Stations will have to use a free bus service instead as the rail service completely closes to make way for construction of the extension to the Dubai Expo 2020 site.

Route 2020 will involve the building of a new station and linking it with the existing one. The extension requires the full closure of Nakheel Harbour and Tower Station as well as the attached multi-level Park-N-Ride Terminal.

“This service is intended to meet the needs of public transport riders in general and metro riders commuting between the said two stations in particular,” said Mohammed Al Hashmi, director of Planning and Business Development, RTA’s Public Transport Agency.

"RTA is always keen to fulfil the needs of public transport users in Dubai and offer integrated excellent services to customers with the aim of making them happier,” he said.

Metro users heading to the UAE Exchange Station are required to drop off at JLT Station, board free alternative buses deployed to take them to Ibn Battuta Station, and then continue their metro journey to UAE Exchange Station.

Those travelling in the direction of Rashidiya Station are required to hop off at Ibn Battuta Station, take the free bus to JLT Station and from there resume their metro journey in the direction of Rashidiya Metro Station.

The same route was closed temporarily last year, between July and October.

Of the closure starting Friday, Mohammed Al Mudharreb, director of Rail Operations at RTA’s Rail Agency said “RTA is always keen on providing seamless transit service to all public transport users on all weekdays.

“It also runs other online and smart services 24/7 and fully integrates them with the public transport network.”