Although I wouldn’t go as far to say that it has put the economy back on track, the opening of the Dubai Metro is certainly the most exciting chapter in Dubai’s history for me personally, for reasons quite different to the hype which has been chugging around its launch:

I don’t think that it’s particularly ‘visionary’ of Dubai – the emirate has merely cottoned onto the fact (and it took it a while) that functional cities need to invest in public transport and that measures need to be taken to ease congestion in the city. The metro uses the same technology as other tried and tested metro systems around the world, and it was designed, built and will be run by foreign companies – there is nothing revolutionary about the Dubai Metro – it is simply a natural stage of progression in the developing country.

I certainly don’t think, as has been claimed, that it is the best in the world. I can say this confidently as a world metro traveler: the technology is nowhere near as sophisticated as Hong Kong’s, as fast as Japan’s, as comfortable as Berlin’s or as comprehensive as London or New York’s. I accept that these things may come with time, but until they do these empty boasts only give cynics like me a rod to beat it with.

At the cost of $7.2 billion (and possibly a few laborers’ lives), almost double its original budget, I doubt it will be particularly profitable. It is still more convenient for people to use cars – especially in a country where petrol can be cheaper than water – and until every station is open it remains a novelty ride in this Arabian theme park. When the Jebel Ali stop near where I live eventually opens, I will need to take a taxi to reach it, which rather defeats the purpose. At some far point in the future, when all the functioning stations are equipped with reliable bus stops, the profits on the metro may only compensate for Dubai Taxi’s lost revenues.

However, what excites me about the Dubai Metro is that, unlike many other grand openings in Dubai, it actually has some substance. It will serve the city. It was built out of necessity, not as a needless showpiece for a Potemkin village, and most surprisingly, it’s affordable. It is the first real development in Dubai’s young history that will benefit me personally, and I’m looking forward to jumping onboard.