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In just six months, Dubai’s transport system brought more people than the entire American population world news

Dubai Metro and taxis calculated more than 62% public transport ride in the first half of 2025, the busiest month in May is 68.8 million rides/ image: File: File.
  • Dubai saw 395.3 million public transport ride from 2024 to 9% in H1 2025.
  • Metro (36.5%) and taxis (26%) formed most of the riderships.
  • The new blue line will serve 1M residents in 14 stations.
  • The target of Dubai is completely for electric/hydrogen bus fleet by 2050.

It is noteworthy to consider that Dubai, a city with a population of about 11.3 million, surprisingly recorded 395 million public transport ride in the first half of 2025. To keep it in perspective, this figure crosses the entire population of the United States by a significant margin of about 347 million. In fact, the number of rides is about 35 times more than the total population of the United Arab Emirates. This striking figure provides a glimpse in the rapidly developed public transport scenario of Dubai, revealing a system that has become integral to daily life for residents and visitors.

Public Transport of Dubai: A growing backbone of mobility

On 27 July 2025, Dubai’s Rhods and Transport Authority (RTA) announced impressive data for public transport ridership during the first six months of the year. There are many transport modes in Dubai Metro, Dubai Tram, Public Buses, Marine Transport, as well as taxis and shared dynamics options such as app-based vehicles, per hour rent and on-demand buses. The total ridership reached around 395.3 million, marking a 9% increase in about 361.2 million rides recorded during the same period in 2024. The average daily rider climbed to about 2.18 million, which was about 1.98 million from the previous year about 1.98 million daily rides. The Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA, Matter Al Tire emphasized the importance of this development. He said, “The continuous growth in public transport ridership reflects the trust of users in the efficiency of the system and the quality of services provided in all mode. We are committed to giving safe, comfortable and durable dynamics solutions to every part of society., Al Tire highlighted that there was a major change in Dubai’s public transport network. “Powered by a diverse range of advanced infrastructure and transit options,” he explained, “The network now makes the spine of dynamics for residents and visitors in Emirates.” In particular, the share of visits using public transport and shared dynamics options increased from just 6% to 21.6% in 2024 in 2006, which is a clear indication of moving a public approach towards permanent and convenient mass transit.

Expansion of infrastructure and environmental commitments

Looking forward, Dubai is actively expanding its transit system. The ongoing construction of Dubai Metro Blue Line is a major project, which is ready to add 30 kilometers and 14 new stations. The line will serve nine major districts with an estimated joint population of a million residents, which will align with a comprehensive Dubai 2040 urban scheme. Al Tire revealed that RTA is pursuing a strategic vision to make public transport a favorite option for daily commuting. “We are moving forward with a clear vision to make public transport a favorite option by expanding transport lines and networks, strengthening connectivity between stations and major destinations, and offering flexible, inclusive dynamics solutions.” In line with environmental goals, the RTA recently by the European low-fasting standard ‘Euro 6.’ With 637 signed four agreements for the purchase of 637 multi-shaped buses. It consists of 40 electric buses, which is the largest and first fleet of its kind in the United Arab Emirates. It is expected to be distributed in 2025 and 2026, which will support geographical expansion and help the entire public bus fleet to achieve a long-term target of converting fleet into electric and hydrogen-operated vehicles by 2050. This month, RTA also completed the development of 16 bus passenger stations and six depots to increase the quality of service.

Ridership Breakdown: Metro, Taxi, and more

During the first half of 2025, Dubai Metro and taxis were responsible for the largest shares of the ridership, contributing 36.5% and 26% of the total trips respectively. Public buses remained important, causing 24% overall ride. May was the busiest month, with a ridership at a 68.8 million trip to a peak, while the other months had 61 million and 68 million rides. Considering these figures, Matar al -Tire said:“In 2024, the ridership was increased by 9% during the first half of this year as compared to the same period, a major indicator of recovery in economic activity in Dubai’s Emirates, as well as RTA strategies and the impact of both residents and visitors to use public transport and to encourage diverse mobility options to offer public transport.” Dubai Metro registered about 143.9 million riders in its red and green lines, while further breaking the metro ridership. The highest traffic stations were:

  • Berguman station with 8.6 million riders (serving both lines)
  • Al Rigga Station With 6.8 million riders
  • Union station with 6.6 million riders

On the red line, Al Rigga was the most busy stations:

  • Emirates station mall with 5.6 million riders
  • Burj Khalifa with 5.4 million riders/Dubai Mall Station
  • Business Bay Station with 5.3 million riders

On the green line, the most popular stations include:

  • Shaf DG Station with 5.1 million riders
  • Baniyas station with 4.1 million riders
  • Stadium station with around 3.6 million riders

Additional methods of transport also contributed significantly. Dubai Tram took 4.9 million riders, while public buses served 95.7 million passengers. Marine transport mode collectively transported 9.7 million users, shared mobility services-including app-based vehicles and on-demand buses, were responsible for 37.6 million rides, and taxis took 103.5 million riders during this period.

Dubai Metro Blue Line: A Historical Development

Dubai Metro Blue Line is ready to become an important additional for the city’s transport network. Counting a distance of 30 kilometers with 14 stations, it will improve connectivity between Major, Dubai Silicon Oasis, Dubai Creek Harbor and Dubai Festival City. The line is designed to handle the maximum capacity of over 850,000 passengers per day, with estimates estimated to 200,000 daily passengers and 320,000 by 2040 by 2030. A notable highlight is the EMAAR Property Station, which will be the longest metro station in the world at a height of 74 meters, to connect the architecturalcher to add Dabai’s ambition. Dubai’s public transport success story is a will for a firm commitment to visionary plan, significant investment and stability and inclusion. In 2006, a modest 6% public transport share from public transport share until a city is taken about 2.2 million rides in 2025 daily, Dubai is redefining urban dynamics on a scale again that rival the entire nations.

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