When it opens in 2029, Dubai Metro Blue Line's first station will become the tallest metro station in the world at 74 metres. To be called Emaar Properties and located in the Dubai Creek Harbour area, the station will be an “architectural icon”, said Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, who laid the foundation stone on Monday.
The Blue Line will add 30km to the Dubai Metro network, and is set to have 14 stations, to be constructed at a cost of Dh18 billion ($4.9 billion). Once completed it will turn the Dubai Metro into a 131km network encompassing 78 stations.
Ahead of the station's opening, here are five others that are already in the record books.
Busiest railway station: Shinjuku Station, Tokyo
Used by an average of 2.7 million people per day, Shinjuku in Japan was certified as the world's busiest railway station by the Guinness World Records in 2022. More than 140 years old, the station serves as the main connecting hub for rail traffic between central, eastern and western Tokyo as well as the intercity rail, commuter rail and subway lines.
Largest station by number of platforms: Grand Central Terminal, New York City
With 44 platforms spread over 19 hectares, Grand Central Terminal is situated on two underground levels and serves approximately 660 trains, as well as an average of 125,000 commuters per day.
Completed in 1913, it's also popularly referred to as Grand Central Station or simply Grand Central, and is now an integral part of New York's history. Even today, it's still one of the biggest train stations in the US and one of the world's most popular tourist sites, having been featured in many TV shows and films over the years, from Gossip Girl to The Avengers.
Highest railway station: Tanggula Railway Station, Tibet
Opened in 2006, the Tanggulla Railway Station is in Amdo County in the Tibet Autonomous Region. At 5,068 metres above sea level, it is the highest railway station in the world, and serves the Qinghai-Tibet railway, the world's highest train line, which runs from Qinghai in north-west China to Lhasa in Tibet.
The station is actually unmanned and not a regular stop for passenger trains, although trains may occasionally stop there to wait for another train coming from the opposite direction to pass.
Tallest metro escalator: Admiralteyskaya station, St Petersburg
At 68.6 metres and comprising 770 steps, the escalator at Admiralteyskaya station in St Petersburg, Russia, is the tallest in the world. The station is 86 metres below ground, making it one of the deepest in the city.
Completed in 2011, the station serves the Frunzensko-Primorskaya Line of the St Petersburg Metro.
Deepest metro station: Hongyancun Station, Chongqing
The south-west municipality of Chongqing in China, known for its hilly terrain, has a number of records to its name, including its social-media-famous monorail system, one of the longest and busiest in the world.
Hongyancun Station, which serves Line 9 of the Chongqing Rail Transit, is 113 metres below ground, making it the deepest metro station in the world. There are extensive escalator systems and lifts to ferry passengers, with some platforms taking up to 10 minutes to reach from the entry point.
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Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
Company profile
Date started: Founded in May 2017 and operational since April 2018
Founders: co-founder and chief executive, Doaa Aref; Dr Rasha Rady, co-founder and chief operating officer.
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: Health-tech
Size: 22 employees
Funding: Seed funding
Investors: Flat6labs, 500 Falcons, three angel investors
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Review: Tomb Raider
Dir: Roar Uthaug
Starring: Alicia Vikander, Dominic West, Daniel Wu, Walter Goggins
two stars
Babumoshai Bandookbaaz
Director: Kushan Nandy
Starring: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Bidita Bag, Jatin Goswami
Three stars
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
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MATCH INFO
Newcastle 2-2 Manchester City
Burnley 0-2 Crystal Palace
Chelsea 0-1 West Ham
Liverpool 2-1 Brighton
Tottenham 3-2 Bournemouth
Southampton v Watford (late)
Why it pays to compare
A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.
Route 1: bank transfer
The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.
Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount
Total received: €4,670.30
Route 2: online platform
The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.
Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction
Total received: €4,756
The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
Global Fungi Facts
• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil
