SOM Designs World’s Tallest Metro Station at Dubai Creek Harbour

Dubai, United Arab Emirates - October 24, 2025: Dubai’s skyline is set to welcome a monumental addition, the new metro station at Dubai Creek Harbour, designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), will rise to approximately 74 metres tall and encompass around 10,800 sqm of built space, positioning the hub as the tallest metro station in the world.

Elevated Transit, Civic Landmark

Located within the upcoming Blue Line extension of the Dubai Metro, the Gateway station is strategically placed for easy access: five minutes from Dubai International Airport and only 10 minutes from the city’s key Al Mansour and Green Zone districts.

By placing such a high-visibility transit facility in this growing district, the project aligns with the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan’s emphasis on mobility, connectivity, and urban integration.

A "Room Lit from Above"

The station’s architectural language emphasises verticality and light. As SOM design partner Colin Koop describes it:

“a room lit from above” where everything draws you up and inward.

Jura limestone cladding and expansive glass ceilings create an interplay of light and environment. The building’s three main levels, public plaza, concourse, and elevated platform, are arranged to support intuitive movement and clear way-finding.

Engineering Peak and Experience

The platform level is one of the most elevated ever conceived for a transit station, reaching around 40 metres in height, with the entire station box extending some 74 metres upward. The design accommodates an expected 160,000 daily passengers by 2040, making the station as much a piece of public infrastructure as an architectural statement.

Crafting Place, Not Just Platform

More than a transit node, the Gateway station is designed as a civic destination, the ground level opens onto a landscaped plaza intended for both commuters and the broader community, reflecting a philosophy that infrastructure can be inclusive, people-focused, and context-sensitive.

As Dubai continues its rapid growth and urban evolution, the new station embodies a vision of infrastructure that is not only efficient but also iconic, a place where movement, architecture, and public life converge.

Image credit: Dubai Media Office