Summary: UAE’s Etihad Rail operator Keolis appoints Yoen Dupuis as CEO ahead of passenger service rollout

Yoen Dupuis named Keolis CEO to drive UAE’s National Etihad Rail Services / Image: file

If you’ve taken the Dubai Metro or Tram lately, you’ve experienced Keolis's clockwork precision. Now, the global leader in shared mobility is entering a fresh chapter. The group has officially appointed Yoen Dupuis as the recent CEO for its Middle East and East Asia regions.

Based right here in the UAE, Dupuis is stepping into a high-stakes role that keeps millions of people moving every single day across some of the world’s most tech-forward cities.

Keolis Group, a major global operator of public transportation networks, has appointed Yoen Dupuis as the Chief Executive Officer for the Middle East and East Asia region. This decisive leadership change is part of Keolis’ plan to expand its footprint and accelerate modern rail and automated metro services in key growth markets.

In his new regional role, Dupuis will drive strategic planning, operations, and partnerships across countries including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and China, overseeing some of the world’s most advanced transit networks.

Yoen Dupuis brings considerable experience to Keolis’ regional leadership position. Before this appointment, he spent more than a decade leading Keolis operations in the Greater Paris Region, turning it into a €1 billion enterprise with 8,500 staff and strengthening its service reputation.

He also managed major transport platforms such as the Paris 2024 Olympic Games transit operations, showcasing his ability to handle complex, high-stake transit environments.

Keolis’ International CEO Laurence Broseta applauded Dupuis’ record, noting his deep expertise in managing large networks and his capacity to build strong relationships with public authorities and partners across the world.

Dupuis himself highlighted the region’s commitment to visionary infrastructure and innovation, and said that combining global expertise with local insight will be a top priority under his leadership.

In his new role, Dupuis carries a heavy briefcase. He is now responsible for the Keolis MHI joint venture, the entity tasked by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) to operate and maintain the Dubai Metro and Dubai Tram.

His mission is clear: maintain the world-class safety standards Dubai is known for while integrating fresh smart technologies. Under his watch, the focus will likely remain on passenger happiness, punctuality, and the "last-mile" connectivity that helps residents get from the station to their front door.

While Dubai is a major focus, Dupuis’s territory stretches far beyond the Arabian Gulf. His jurisdiction includes oversight of Keolis’s ventures in China (including the Shanghai Metro and the Greater Bay Area) and Australia (where the company manages massive tram and bus networks).

By bridging the gap between Middle Eastern innovation and East Asian efficiency, Dupuis aims to create a "knowledge corridor," bringing the best transport practices from Shanghai and Melbourne to the streets of Dubai and Doha.

The appointment comes as the UAE doubles down on sustainability. Under Dupuis’s leadership, Keolis has signaled a significant push toward decarbonization.

This involves exploring electric bus fleets, energy-efficient station cooling, and data-driven maintenance to prevent delays. For the average commuter, this leadership change might happen behind the scenes, but the result should be a smoother, greener, and more reliable journey every time you tap your Nol card.