The Dubai Metro transformed into a vibrant concert venue for many commuters on Saturday, offering a unique musical experience during their daily travels. Passengers on select trains were treated to live performances by musicians and artists, turning their usual commute into a memorable event.
The Dubai Metro Music Festival, which kicked off at 5 pm on Saturday, features artists from around the globe entertaining residents and tourists with live music on trains and at stations. At BurJuman and Union metro stations, crowds gathered as the stations resonated with the sounds of both traditional and contemporary tunes. Each performance shifted the atmosphere from the typical rush of commuters to a shared musical moment, with people stopping to enjoy the music and even capturing the performances on their phones.
For Frank Abara, a Nigerian expat living in Dubai, the experience was a pleasant surprise. Having just returned from the UK, he took the metro to his residence in Dubai Marina. As he passed by the ADCB metro station, he encountered a live performance. “I take the metro every day, but this was something entirely different. To have live music while commuting was amazing. It completely transformed my journey. I felt like I was part of a music festival,” Abara said.
Fatima Malik, a resident of Al Qusais, was traveling with her children when they encountered the music at Union Metro station. “My kids and I were in awe when we saw the musicians performing at the station. They even started dancing! It’s such a creative way to bring art to everyday spaces, and it certainly made our metro ride a lot more enjoyable,” Malik said.
For Ravi Menon, an engineer whose car was in the garage, the festival provided a new incentive to use the metro more frequently. “I have traveled to many cities and have seen something like this in Europe, but never in Dubai,” Menon said. His friend, Abhilash Sinha, a finance professional, found the live music to be a perfect way to unwind after work. “It’s a great way to relax after a long day. Usually, after hours at the office, I am exhausted by the time I get on the metro,” Sinha said.
Organized by Brand Dubai in collaboration with the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), the festival will continue until September 27, featuring a diverse mix of classical and fusion artists at five key metro stations: Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates, BurJuman, Union, and DMCC. The festival showcases musicians from the UAE and around the world, using instruments ranging from the Qanun to percussion and wind instruments, creating a distinctive experience for all metro passengers.
