Dubai Metro expansion gets boost from Emirates NBD: DFM-listed Emirates NBD has wrapped the underwriting of a AED 3.9 bn green syndicated bonding facility to a consortium of contractors working on the new Dubai Metro Blue Line, it said in a press release. Turkey’s Mapa and Limak, alongside China’s CRRC, are building the line.

Refresher: The AED 20.5 bn Blue Line, scheduled for completion by September 2029, will connect with the existing Red and Green Metro lines and integrate with bus and taxi networks. It is expected to carry 350k daily passengers by 2040, with the 30-km line running through 14 stations connecting Dubai International Airport to major urban hubs such as Mirdif, Al Warqa, International City, Dubai Silicon Oasis, Academic City, and Dubai Creek Harbour.

The timeline so far: The Dubai Roads and Transportation Authority (RTA) awarded the project to the consortium last year. They started construction last month, a few months after the initially-planned starting date.

AED 56 bn in ROI? The project is slated to bring about AED 56 bn in return on investments through reductions in fuel consumption, travel time, emissions, and accident-related fatalities, according to RTA Director General Mattar Al Tayer.

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