One of the major problems that Dubai is struggling with is the lack of public transport. That’s partially being addressed by the construction of a rail system, the Metro, which will be part underground and part above ground.

Construction is visibly progressing very quickly and is reported to be well on schedule.

There will be 44 kilometres of elevated track and this shows part of that, alongside the main freeway into the city, Sheikh Zayed Road.

Major stations in the heart of the city are being built, which will have interchanges for the two separate lines, and tunneling is under way for the underground sections of the Metro beneath the city and under the Creek.

Special machines called ‘launching girders’ are in place to lay the spans of track. Huge machines, they lift the viaduct sections and lay them on the concrete piers.