The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has reached 40 percent completion on a large-scale LED conversion at Dubai Metro stations and related facilities, the authority reported. So far, 17,880 of the planned 44,700 lighting units have been replaced, with the project scheduled for completion in 2027.
Project scope and expected savings
The retrofit is intended to reduce electricity consumption, lower maintenance needs and cut carbon emissions across the metro network. RTA projections estimate the completed program will reduce annual electricity use by more than 14 million kilowatt-hours (kWh).
The work is being performed with Keolis MHI, the operator and maintainer of Dubai Metro and Dubai Tram. The upgrade has been organized into phases: the first two phases focused on footbridges and passenger and operational areas along the Red and Green Lines; the third phase is now under way and covers car parks, tunnels, extension buildings and power distribution stations.
Lifespan and maintenance implications
RTA statements note a large difference in expected operational life between the new LED units and the conventional bulbs they replace. The authority said the LED units can last up to 11 years under continuous operation, compared with about one year for the conventional lamps previously used.
That longer life translates into avoided replacement cycles and labor savings: the RTA estimates the LEDs will avoid roughly 12 to 13 replacement cycles per unit over the same period and save about six to seven labor hours per unit across the lifespan of a fixture.
Operational delivery and partners
Keolis MHI is carrying out the replacement work with the RTA’s Rail Agency. The authority said the program is being executed in line with its schedule and that the scope now in progress includes non-station assets such as tunnels and power distribution infrastructure.
- Units replaced to date: 17,880 of 44,700
- Completion target: 2027
- Projected annual electricity savings: more than 14 million kWh
- Expected LED life under continuous operation: up to 11 years
- Estimated avoided replacement cycles: 12–13 per unit
- Estimated labor hours saved per unit over lifespan: six–seven hours
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Planned units | 44,700 |
| Units replaced | 17,880 |
| Project completion target | 2027 |
| Annual electricity reduction (projected) | more than 14 million kWh |
| LED expected life | up to 11 years (continuous operation) |
Dawood Alrais, Director of Rail Maintenance at the RTA’s Rail Agency, commented that the upgrade would cut energy consumption and maintenance needs while making the lighting more reliable. The authority emphasized that fewer replacements would reduce maintenance requirements and costs across Metro facilities.
The retrofit is being marketed by the RTA as a combined energy-efficiency and asset-management project: alongside the kWh savings, the authority is quantifying lifecycle labor reductions and replacement-cycle avoidance as part of the program's value proposition.
For integrators and lighting contractors, the Dubai Metro program presents a high-profile example of a phased public-transport LED conversion that pairs operational savings with reduced routine maintenance demands. The project timeline continues through 2027.
