337 million rides taken on Dubai public transport in first half of 2023

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced that public transport ridership in the city touched 337 million during the first half of 2023, marking an 11 per cent increase compared to last year.

That includes Dubai Metro, Dubai Tram, public buses, marine transport means (abras, ferry, water taxi, water bus), e-hail rides, smart car rental, Bus-On-Demand, and taxis (Dubai Taxi and franchise company taxis).

The figure compares favourably 304.6 million riders in the first half of 2022.

The daily average ridership of public transportation modes, shared mobility and taxis in the first half of 2023 was around 1.86 million riders, compared to about 1.68 million riders during the same period last year.

"Dubai Metro and taxis accounted for the largest ridership share - with 36.5 per cent for Dubai Metro, and 29 per cent for Dubai Taxi," highlighted Mattar Al Tayer, Director General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA.

Meanwhile, public buses contributed to 24.5 per cent.

The month of March was termed the "busiest of all months" after recording about 60 million riders. The ridership in other months ranged from 53 to 58 million riders, the RTA added.

"These results are a significant indicator of the resurgence of Dubai’s economic activity, as well as RTA’s the effective initiatives to encourage residents and visitors to use public transportation and offer diverse mobility options for Dubai’s residents," noted Al Tayer.

The RTA added that "Dubai Metro ridership on both the Red and Green Lines hit 123.4 million in the first half of 2023, with Burjuman and Union stations accounting for the majority of riders.

"On both the Red and Green Lines, Burjuman Station served 7.25 million riders, whereas Union Station was used by 5.6 million riders.  The Red Line’s busiest station Al Rigga served 5.4 million riders, followed by Mall of the Emirates Station with 5.2 million riders, and Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall Station with 4.7 million riders.

"On the Green Line, Sharaf DG Station ranked first in terms of ridership clocking 4.4 million riders, followed by Baniyas Station serving 3.8 million riders ahead of Stadium Station with 3 million riders, and the remaining ridership was distributed among other metro stations."

In the first half of 2023, Dubai Tram lifted 4.2 million riders, public buses served 83 million riders, and marine transport means (abras, water bus, water taxi, and ferry) lifted 9.1 million riders. Shared mobility means (e-hail, smart rental vehicles, Bus-On-Demand) lifted 21 million riders, and taxis (Dubai Taxi, and franchise companies) lifted 96.2 million riders.