Dubai Metro is the Middle East’s first fully automated rail transport system and when completed will have a total of 70 km of lines, making it the world’s longest.  The first two lines are under construction and will run underground in the city centre and on elevated viaducts elsewhere. Due to open in September 2009, it is expected that the metro will carry 1.2 million passengers on an average day, and 355 million passengers per year once both lines are operational. The Dubai Metro will be fully integrated within the network operated by the Roads & Transport Authority (RTA), a body created in 2005. Taxi stations and park-and-ride facilities will be included in key Metro stations to further enhance the system’s role. The Dubai Metro will be one of the most advanced urban rail systems in the world and will be the catalyst for tourism, financial and economic growth.