Dubai’s Public transport network experienced an upswing, with approximately 337 million journeys recorded during the first six months of 2023. This marked an 11% increase from the same period last year. Moreover, it gives insight about Dubai’s commitment to enhancing services and reducing congestion and environmental impact caused by private vehicles.
The population boom in Dubai has been a contributing factor, with the number of residents surpassing 3.5 million in April 2022 and currently standing at 3.61 million. Amid this growth, the RTA released the latest passenger figures on Sunday. It reveals the continued popularity of the Dubai Metro as the primary mode of public transport.
Furthermore, March emerged as the busiest month of the year so far. With 60 million journeys made, contributing to the overall 11% rise compared to 2022. This growth is seen as a positive indicator of Dubai’s economic revival. Moreover, it also supports RTA’s initiatives to encourage public transportation use.
During the first half of this year, the Dubai Metro’s Green and Red lines served more than 123 million rides. Public taxis saw over 96 million trips and public buses recorded 83 million journeys. Additionally, shared mobility, like carpooling, accounted for 21 million journeys, followed by marine transport with 9.1 million trips and the Dubai Tram with 4.2 million rides. Notably, Metro rides were responsible for over a third of all public transport trips.
Three New Bus Routes to Enhance Connectivity
In a bid to enhance connectivity, RTA introduced three new bus routes in May. These are specifically designed to link passengers with popular Metro stations. Route 51 connects Al Khail Gate to Business Bay Metro station with buses available every 20 minutes during peak hours. Route SH1 serves commuters between Dubai Mall Metro station and Sobha Realty Metro station in JLT, with buses running every 60 minutes. Finally, Route YM1 operates hourly between UAE Exchange Metro station in Jebel Ali and Yiwu Market in the Jebel Ali Free Zone.
The comprehensive public transport network in Dubai has become the backbone of people’s movement around the city, leading to a significant shift in the community’s culture and attitudes towards using various public transport options.
