By Desmond Nleya
Dubai: Inside the highly secured Dubai Metro Operations Control Centre (OCC) in Rashidiya, just 20 staff members keep a 24/7 watch over one of the world’s longest driverless metro systems. With the support of 1,800 operations, maintenance and safety personnel, the OCC ensures the smooth running of 101 trains across 53 stations, transporting around 850,000 passengers every day.
A wall of giant screens streams live footage from 9,000 cameras, giving operators a real-time view of the entire network. Alongside, Dubai Police run a parallel high-tech surveillance system in a separate control room to guarantee passenger safety. Access to this police facility is strictly restricted.
Layers of precision
According to Hassan Al Mutawa, Director of Rail Operations at the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), the OCC functions through three layers of monitoring. The first supervises train and station operations during service hours from 5am to midnight (until 1am on Saturdays and special occasions). The second oversees depots and maintenance systems, while the third is managed by duty managers who coordinate all daily activities.
Each metro segment has a dedicated agent monitoring performance and responding to incidents in line with strict protocols.
Security and technology
Close coordination with Dubai Police ensures rapid response to any emergencies. “If any incident happens, the police team inside the control centre directly communicates with their on-ground staff,” said Al Mutawa.
Artificial intelligence (AI) and predictive monitoring also play a critical role. Advanced sensors help forecast potential failures, allowing preemptive maintenance. More than 10 subsystems—including fire safety, lighting, lifts, and temperature controls—are tracked continuously. These tools contribute to Dubai Metro’s 99.7 per cent on-time performance, ranking it among the world’s top five metro systems.
Lessons from the 2024 floods
Al Mutawa recalled that the heaviest rainfall in 75 years brought unprecedented floods to Dubai in April 2024, forcing temporary station closures and posing the Metro’s greatest challenge since its launch in 2009. The incident prompted a complete overhaul of emergency response plans.
“Preparing a full plan for any natural emergency is now a priority—whether it’s rain, humidity, or strong winds,” he said, noting that new procedures are regularly tested.
Continuous upgrades and future growth
The OCC is also tasked with keeping systems updated. Recent upgrades have improved train movement controls and the Nol ticketing system, ensuring smooth service even during peak periods when train frequency is increased.
Since its launch on 09/09/09, the Dubai Metro has carried more than 2.4 billion passengers across 4.3 million journeys. In the first half of 2025 alone, 143.9 million people used the Red and Green Lines.
Looking ahead, expansion plans for the Blue Line continue, but for now, the OCC—backed by another control hub in Jebel Ali—remains focused on ensuring world-class reliability.
“Our responsibility is to guarantee that every passenger travels safely and comfortably,” Al Mutawa emphasised.
