With news of the forthcoming opening of the Dubai Metro Red Line in September 2009, the bustling gulf metropolis is in the final phase of completing its transformation into one of the leading global cities of the modern era.

Connecting the central business district with both sides of the Dubai Creek, the new metro (with a further Green Line extension planned for 2010) will ease commuter traffic, and undoubtedly benefit property owners who are currently jammed on roads on their daily commutes.

In the long term, it is forecasted that potential Dubai investment will also have to reconsider their policies in view of this new “green factor”.

Whilst the construction of an incredible 47 stations nears completion, the Emirates’ Road and Transport Authority (RTA) is looking to the future, indeed a greener one for Dubai that foresees a reduction in automobile usage.

The rail projects director of the RTA, Adnan Al Hammadi, remarks that “The RTA is also conducting studies, which will detail plans to connect various proposed monorails with the Metro through climate controlled walkways and travellators.”

Whilst this might sound like something from a sci-fi film, it highlights the vision and innovation at the heart of the RTA’s strategic plan for mass transit in the Gulf.

It comes as welcome news to both current property owners and future commercial property development in Dubai.

Like other great global cities, the vitality and dynamism of the metropolis is expressed by its mobility – could we imagine London or New York without its historic underground and subway systems?

But whilst those cities expanded in the age of heavy industry, our more environmentally aware age will see Dubai evolve into a green-conscious city in the heart of the Gulf, with a transit system to match.