Dubai’s Public Transport and Taxis Achieve 348.1 Million Journeys in H1 2026, Strengthening Sustainable Mobility
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has reported that public transport, shared mobility, and taxi services collectively served approximately 348.1 million passengers in the first half of 2026. This impressive figure translates to an average daily ridership of nearly 1.9 million, underscoring the effectiveness of Dubai’s integrated transport system.
Comprehensive Public Transport Usage
The reported total encompasses a variety of transport modes, including the Dubai Metro, Dubai Tram, public buses, marine transport, taxis, and shared mobility services such as ride-hailing vehicles, hourly rental cars, and on-demand buses. Additionally, luxury transport vehicles, including limousines, accounted for 5.7 million passengers during the same period.
Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA, emphasized that these statistics reflect the success of Dubai’s vision for a sustainable and innovative transport system. He noted that the integrated approach has bolstered confidence among both residents and visitors, fostering a culture of sustainable mobility throughout the emirate.
Growth in Public Transport Share
Al Tayer highlighted a significant increase in the share of trips made using public transport and shared mobility, which rose from 6% in 2006 to 22.3% in 2025. This growth is attributed to long-term investments and policies aimed at enhancing the quality of life and boosting Dubai’s global competitiveness.
The RTA is committed to a strategic vision that positions public transport as the most efficient and sustainable option for daily commuting. Al Tayer stated that this approach reinforces Dubai’s status as a global model for sustainable mobility.
Major Projects Under Development
Several key projects are currently underway to further enhance Dubai’s transport infrastructure. The 30-kilometre Blue Line of the Dubai Metro is set to feature 14 stations and will serve nine key districts, accommodating around one million residents as part of the Dubai Urban Plan 2040.
Additionally, the RTA has approved the 42-kilometre Gold Line, with an investment of approximately AED34 billion. This project will include 18 stations and will be Dubai’s first fully integrated underground metro line, connecting with the existing Red and Green lines as well as Etihad Rail.
The RTA has also initiated the phased deployment of 637 new buses, including 40 electric buses, all compliant with Euro 6 low-emission standards. This fleet expansion supports the goal of converting Dubai’s public bus fleet to 100% electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles by 2050.
Innovations in Mobility
Looking to the future, Al Tayer announced that the RTA has commenced operations of self-driving taxis and is preparing to launch commercial air taxi services later this year. Progress is also being made on the Dubai Loop project, which aims to enhance connectivity across the city.
During the first half of 2026, the Dubai Metro accounted for the largest share of public transport usage, representing 39.2% of total passengers. Taxis followed closely with 25.5%, while public buses constituted 24.4%. Together, these three modes comprised approximately 89% of all passenger journeys.
January saw the highest monthly ridership, with 73.4 million passengers, while ridership figures for the remaining months ranged between 49 million and 66 million. Metro ridership on the Red and Green lines reached approximately 136.5 million passengers during the first six months of the year.
Station Usage Insights
Among interchange stations, BurJuman Station recorded the highest usage with 8.4 million passengers, followed by Union Station with 6.5 million passengers. On the Red Line, Al Rigga Station was the busiest, serving 6.4 million passengers, followed by Mall of the Emirates Station and Business Bay Station, with 5.2 million and 5 million passengers, respectively. On the Green Line, Sharaf DG Station led with 4.9 million passengers, followed by Baniyas Station and Stadium Station, which recorded 3.8 million and approximately 3.7 million passengers, respectively.
In the first half of 2026, the Dubai Tram carried 3.8 million passengers, while public buses transported 85.1 million passengers. Marine transport services recorded 8.1 million passengers. Shared mobility services, including ride-hailing vehicles, hourly rentals, and on-demand buses, accounted for 25.7 million passengers, while Dubai’s taxi sector recorded 88.9 million passengers.
The RTA continues to advance initiatives aimed at enhancing integration between public transport, shared mobility services, pedestrian and cycling networks, and smart traffic systems. These efforts are aligned with the objectives of the Dubai Urban Plan 2040 and the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, aiming to increase the share of trips made using public transport and shared mobility to 25% by 2030.
Source: www.emirates247.com
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Published on 2026-08-02 12:29:00 • By the Editorial Desk
