International public services company, Serco Middle East, is marking today the completion of 11 years of the Dubai Metro, the most advanced and modern rail system in the UAE.

The 11th anniversary also marks a long standing and valued partnership between the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Serco Middle East, the leading operator and maintainer of the Dubai Metro since its launch in 2009.

Serco Middle East operates and maintains the Dubai Metro, and was first awarded the contract in 2009. Since then and over the last 11 years, Serco has delivered high quality outcomes for Dubai Metro that includes the launch of the Red Line Extension, a new 15km extension line linking communities in Discovery Gardens, Dubai Investment Park and the Expo 2020 site and spanning across seven stations. Serco's partnership also seeks to celebrate and promote the success of its employees in maintaining a safe and healthy working environment for the passengers of the Dubai Metro. This develops on Serco's proud relationship with the RTA, which has continued for more than 11 years.

Over those years, Serco has built a leading position in supporting RTA's vision of smooth and safe transport for everyone. The partnership demonstrates Serco's capacity to produce real efficiencies and productivity benefits for their customers, the public and communities Serco serves by delivering 99.9% punctuality and train service availability.

Wallace Weatherill, Dubai Metro and Tram Managing Director said: "At Serco Middle East we have underlined our commitment to the RTA by not only continuing to deliver operations and maintenance to the existing Dubai Metro Red and Green lines, but also to mirror the same level of world class service to the new Route 2020. Our goal is to simultaneously continue developing our staff, especially our UAE Nationals, by providing adequate training facilities, development opportunities and global expertise to ensure today's generation run tomorrows sustainable public transport modes. Emiratis now occupy 45 different roles across the majority of departments and functions and 11% comprise the organisation's Dubai Metro workforce."

Abdulmohsin Ibrahim Younes, CEO, Rail Agency said: "Dubai Metro is the backbone of the Emirate's transport infrastructure making it a key component of the emirate and a significant milestone in UAE's vision for the future. Serco brings a wealth of knowledge and global expertise to ensure we continue delivering efficient and innovative public transit systems. Additionally, we praise Serco for its nationalisation objectives, attracting, developing and transferring rail knowledge to the local workforce, through various opportunities in customer services, rail engineering and operations for career growth and development".

The UAE has paved the path for futuristic public transportation and Dubai Metro's 11th year anniversary, although a major milestone, is just the beginning. Looking ahead at the next decade and beyond, as an international public services company, Serco aims to continue delivering world class services to customers in the UAE on behalf of governments, semi-governments and large private corporations, and to maintain its long-standing partnership with the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).