A 55-kilometre rail corridor connecting Dubai’s two major airports is in the early planning stages, with the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) having opened a bidding process for consultants to study and design the proposed Airport Express Line, Khaleej Times reported.
The line would stretch from Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) in Jebel Ali to the existing Red Line Metro station serving Dubai International Airport (DXB) in Al Garhoud, with consultants given until June to submit their bids.
The proposed alignment would pass through Al Jaddaf, travel along Al Khail Road, and include a station at Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC). From JVC, two branch tracks are planned — one extending toward Emirates Golf Club and another toward Business Bay. In total, the line would serve five stations.
What distinguishes the proposed express line from a standard metro extension is the range of integrated airport services being considered for its stations, including remote airline check-in, baggage drop-off, and security screening — features that would transform station stops into pre-departure processing points.
Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths had previously indicated that allowing passengers to check in baggage at train stations was part of the airport’s long-term service model, lending institutional backing to the concept now being formally studied.
The Airport Express Line is a separate undertaking from the planned extension of the Route 2020 Metro line to DWC’s West Terminal, and is distinct from other rail projects under Dubai’s broader network expansion, including the Blue Line.
Al Maktoum International is being developed as an urban district in its own right within Dubai South, incorporating residential zones, commercial areas, and supporting infrastructure alongside aviation facilities. The airport is ultimately planned to accommodate up to 260 million passengers annually, with DXB operations expected to migrate there over time.
Rail infrastructure is also being designed within DWC itself, including an underground train system and earlier proposals for a 14-station automated people mover linking terminals and concourses. Separately, Dubai has approved the City Terminal Project under its Dubai 10X Initiative, which would let travellers complete check-in formalities at locations across the city before travelling to the airport.
Khaleej Times said it has contacted the RTA for details on the project’s scope and timeline.
