RTA’s upgraded Tunnel Boring Machine ‘Al Wugeisha’ has completed over 1,200 metres of underground excavation in International City as part of Dubai’s 30-kilometre metro expansion.
DUBAI:Operating nearly 35 metres beneath the bustling streets of International City, a 2,000-tonne industrial giant is carving out the underground corridors that will soon power Dubai’s next mass transit expansion. Known as Al Wugeisha, the upgraded Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) is driving the excavation for the AED 20.5 billion Dubai Metro Blue Line project.
Underground ‘Factory’ on the Move
Unlike standard heavy excavation equipment, Al Wugeisha operates as a self-contained underground processing facility. Spanning 163 metres in length, the machine uses a massive 9.6-metre rotating cutterhead to slice through dense rock and soil layers.
As the cutterhead moves forward, the machine simultaneously removes displaced earth through automated slurry pipelines and installs concrete tunnel lining segments along the newly cut path. This continuous cycle allows excavation and structural reinforcement to take place at the same time.
Engineers from the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) direct operations from a digital command center built directly inside the TBM. Specialist operators monitor navigation metrics around the clock to ensure the machine maintains strict alignment along the planned metro route.
Accelerated Tunnelling Pace
Named after a desert rodent species, Al Wugeisha previously contributed to constructing sections of Dubai Metro’s Red, Green, and Expo 2020 lines. The machine was substantially upgraded for the Blue Line contract with higher cutting pressure, enlarged dimensions, and automated digital guidance systems.
Since tunnelling operations commenced in May, Al Wugeisha has cleared approximately 1,200 metres of underground territory. RTA field logs indicate the unit maintains an average daily progress rate between 13 and 17 metres, with peak daily output reaching up to 30 metres—more than double the rate achieved during early metro line construction in 2007.
Operations at Dragon Mart Station
Excavation is currently focused beneath the future Dragon Mart Station site. The underground station structure will cover an area of 8,118 square metres within a broader project footprint of 39,480 square metres.
Worksite staffing reflects the scale of the infrastructure push. Approximately 580 personnel operate at the Dragon Mart Station site alone. Across the broader International City section—including the major interchange station and adjacent underground stops—more than 2,080 workers operate in rotating 24-hour shifts.
RTA officials emphasized that underground boring minimizes environmental and structural disruptions at ground level. Low-vibration cutting technology prevents structural impacts on surface roads and residential housing, allowing surface traffic and retail activity in International City to proceed without major diversions.
Network Expansion Outlook
Scheduled to open on September 9, 2029, the Dubai Metro Blue Line spans 30 kilometres and includes 14 stations—nine elevated and five underground. The route features major interchange stations linking with the existing Red Line at Centrepoint and the Green Line at Creek station.
Once fully operational, the Blue Line will connect major growth districts, including Dubai Silicon Oasis, Academic City, Ras Al Khor, Mirdif, and International City. The expansion is projected to serve over one million residents, adding vital capacity to Dubai’s public transit network under the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan.
