By Staff Reporter
Dubai’s public transport network recorded a remarkable 348.1 million passengers during the first half of 2026, reinforcing the emirate’s position as a global leader in smart and sustainable mobility.
According to Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), the figure includes passengers using the Dubai Metro, Dubai Tram, public buses, marine transport, taxis and shared mobility services such as app-based ride-hailing, hourly vehicle rentals and bus-on-demand. Limousine services transported an additional 5.7 million riders over the same period.
Average daily ridership reached nearly 1.9 million, highlighting the growing reliance on public transport across the city.
His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA, attributed the growth to Dubai’s integrated transport system, continuous investment in smart mobility and commitment to sustainable urban development. He noted that the share of journeys made using public transport and shared mobility has increased significantly, rising from 6 percent in 2006 to 22.3 percent in 2025.
The Dubai Metro remained the city’s most popular transport mode, accounting for 39.2 percent of all public transport journeys. Taxis followed with 25.5 percent, while public buses contributed 24.4 percent, meaning the three services together handled nearly 89 percent of total passenger trips.
January was the busiest month of the year, recording 73.4 million riders, while monthly passenger numbers for the remaining months ranged between 49 million and 66 million.
Among Metro stations, BurJuman emerged as the busiest interchange with 8.4 million passengers, followed by Union Station with 6.5 million. On the Red Line, Al Rigga Station recorded the highest footfall with 6.4 million riders, while Sharaf DG Station led the Green Line with 4.9 million passengers.
Looking ahead, the RTA is pressing forward with several major transport projects, including the 30-kilometre Metro Blue Line, the AED34 billion Gold Line, and the phased introduction of 637 new Euro 6 buses, including 40 electric buses. The authority has also begun driverless taxi operations and is preparing to launch air taxi services before the end of the year as part of its strategy to increase the share of public transport trips to 25 percent by 2030.
Source: Dubai Media Office
