Dubai Metro merged Operations and Engineering Control Centres, improving efficiency and cutting service recovery time by 80%/Image: WAM

Dubai’s Metro network has taken a decisive step towards smarter, faster, and safer urban mobility. By integrating its Operations Control Centre with the Engineering Control Centre, the city’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has created a unified platform that transforms fault response, operational efficiency, and real-time oversight across the transport system. This development marks a key milestone in Dubai’s Strategic Plan 2030, signalling a new era for sustainable and innovative public transport.

The RTA, through its Rail Agency, has formally linked the Operations Control Centre (OCC) with the Engineering Control Centre (ECC). This integration is designed to increase operational flexibility, improve response times, and ensure a smoother passenger experience throughout the Dubai Metro network.Hasan Al Mutawa, Director of Rail Operations at RTA’s Rail Agency, emphasised the significance of the move: “The integration of the Operations and Engineering Control Centres marks a significant leap in performance. Fault notifications are now transmitted in real time, enabling quicker deployment of first response teams and accelerating service recovery by up to 80 per cent.”This initiative streamlines operational procedures, enhances flexibility, and allows the Metro network to respond more dynamically to disruptions or technical issues.

The integration brings live data dashboards that provide comprehensive visibility over both operational and technical systems. Early warning signals now allow for the proactive identification of potential risks, while unified data improves the speed and accuracy of decision-making.Internal communication has been strengthened, ensuring that updates reach relevant personnel promptly, and passengers receive timely information during service interruptions. The system’s design ensures that critical situations can be handled with precision, reducing downtime and improving overall reliability.

Beyond the Metro network, the integrated platform connects directly with Dubai’s Enterprise Command and Control Centre (EC3). This linkage enables real-time monitoring across the city’s entire transport ecosystem and allows urgent matters to escalate immediately when necessary.Al Mutawa highlighted that the integration process included coordinated staff training and unified communication procedures with partner agencies, reinforcing Dubai Metro’s role as the backbone of the city’s public transport system.

The RTA describes this transformation as a pivotal step towards Dubai’s vision for the future of urban mobility. By combining technical and operational oversight under a single framework, the authority is promoting smarter, more agile practices while enhancing safety, innovation, and efficiency.This milestone positions Dubai as a global model for sustainable and intelligent public transport, advancing the city’s Strategic Plan 2030 goal of providing innovative systems that deliver world-class customer experiences.