Organisation of the train station is around three halls designed as traditional urban spaces - the arrivals hall conceived as a souk, the departures hall designed as a caravanserai, and the boarding hall conceived as a garden - and a central service area; an existing 2002 station is incorporated in the project which served 3 million passengers in 2019, expected to rise to 6 million by 2030. Only 10% of the area is air-conditioned: cross ventilation cools the areas underneath the large roof canopy that provides shade and natural lighting and is covered with photovoltaic sensors to reduce energy consumption, and extensive interior planting also helps cool the facility. The steel-and-concrete structure permits large circulation areas within the three halls.

Source: Aga Khan Trust for Culture