What happened to plans for a metro in Abu Dhabi?

Neighbouring Dubai is well known for having its flashy elevated metro system, and other major cities in the Middle East have followed suit, such as Doha in Qatar and the Saudi capital Riyadh. Abu Dhabi did launch ambitious plans for a metro back in 2008. So what happened?

What was planned

The design phase described a network of four lines (one heavy-rail metro, two light rail lines, one bus rapid transit loop) covering about 131 km.
The heavy rail component (roughly 18 km, partly underground) was to link key areas: the business district, Reem Island, Saadiyat Island, Yas Island, the airport, etc.
A feasibility study and preliminary design phase took place between ~2010-2015. DB Engineering & Consulting

What happened (delays and changes)

Despite the ambitious plan, no major construction of the metro component had been launched (as of the latest public information). According to the project summary: “no contracts have been signed and no construction has started” for the full network.
The original target for Phase 1 completion (60 km) by 2020 was clearly missed; the publicly cited date in later documentation was pushed to “no sooner than 2030.”
More recently, the focus appears to have shifted: the official narrative emphasises tram and light-rail parts of the network rather than a full metro heavy rail.

Current status & what to watch

As of 2025, the metro project remains in planning/feasibility stage rather than under major construction.
A tram project (for example, linking Yas Island to Zayed International Airport) has now been publicly announced and is progressing, signalling perhaps a phased, more incremental approach to rail infrastructure. The National
The shift in emphasis suggests that the authorities might be implementing lighter rail modes first, with full heavy metro to follow later (or possibly re-scoped).
Key questions remain: when will contracts for the heavy rail be awarded? Which lines will be built first? Will budget/scope change?

Why the delays? (some inferred factors)

Mega-infrastructure projects like metros carry high cost, long lead-times, and require extensive urban coordination.
Rapid urban growth, changing priorities (e.g., focus on trams/light rail and regional rail), and possibly economic and strategic re-scoping may have slowed the original timeline.
The decision to prioritise lighter rail/tram modes first may reflect pragmatic staging: build lower-cost, lower-risk segments first, then scale up.

Bottom line

The Abu Dhabi Metro remains a planned project rather than a fully-under-way one. While the route, length and concept were laid out years ago, the heavy rail lines haven’t yet moved into large-scale construction. Instead, the transport strategy is now emphasising trams/light rail as stepping stones.