Dubai: Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced that public transport modes, including Dubai Metro, Dubai Tram, public buses, and marine transport, along with taxis and shared mobility options such as app-based vehicles, hourly rentals, and on-demand buses, served approximately 395.3 million riders in the first half of 2025.
According to Emirates News Agency, this represents a 9% increase compared to around 361.2 million riders during the same period in 2024. Average daily ridership reached nearly 2.18 million, up from approximately 1.98 million in the first half of 2024. Mattar Al Tayer, Director General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA, highlighted that the continued growth in public transport ridership reflects users’ confidence in the system’s efficiency and the quality of services provided across all modes.
Al Tayer noted that Dubai’s public transport network has undergone a significant transformation, driven by advanced infrastructure and a range of transit options that now form the backbone of mobility for residents and visitors across the emirate. As a result, the share of journeys using public transport and shared mobility increased from 6% in 2006 to 21.6% in 2024. He emphasized the RTA’s commitment to making public transport the preferred choice for daily commuting by expanding transport lines and networks, strengthening connectivity between stations and key destinations, and offering inclusive mobility solutions.
Al Tayer also mentioned the ongoing construction of the Dubai Metro Blue Line, which will span 30 kilometres and comprise 14 stations, serving nine key districts with a combined estimated population of one million residents. This project aligns with the Dubai 2040 Urban Plan.
Additionally, Al Tayer announced that RTA signed four agreements to procure 637 multi-sized buses compliant with the European low-emission standard ‘Euro 6,’ including 40 electric buses. These buses, to be delivered in 2025 and 2026, will support the geographic expansion of the public bus network and align with the strategic objective to convert the entire public bus fleet to electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles by 2050. The development of 16 bus passenger stations and six depots was completed this month to enhance the quality of services for users.
Dubai Metro and taxis recorded the highest share of ridership in the first half of 2025, with the Metro accounting for 36.5% and taxis for 26%. Public buses represented 24% of the total ridership. May registered the highest monthly ridership, reaching 68.8 million, while other months ranged between 61 and 68 million riders.
The RTA’s strategies and initiatives have effectively encouraged both residents and visitors to use public transport, contributing to a 9% increase in ridership compared to the same period in 2024. Dubai Metro users on the Red and Green Lines reached approximately 143.9 million, with BurJuman and Al Rigga stations recording the highest volumes. Dubai Tram transported 4.9 million riders, and public buses carried 95.7 million riders. Marine transport modes had 9.7 million users, while shared mobility services served 37.6 million riders. Taxi services in Dubai transported 103.5 million riders during the first half of the year.