Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced that the number of riders using public transport and shared mobility clocked nearly 304.6 million during the first half of 2022.
The public transport and shared mobility include Dubai Metro, Dubai Tram, public buses, marine transport (abras, ferry, water taxi, water bus), e-hail rides, smart car rental, Bus-On-Demand, and taxis (Dubai Taxi and franchise company taxies).
In the first half of 2021, the figures were about 202 million riders.
Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA said, “The Dubai Metro and taxis accounted for the biggest share in the number of riders using public transport, shared transport and taxis, with 36 percent for Dubai Metro and 29 percent for taxis, while public buses contributed to 26 percent.”
He said, “March 2022 was the busiest of all months recording 62 million riders, which coincided with the end of Expo 2020 Dubai. Ridership in other months ranged from 46 to 49 million riders.”
He added, “The first half of 2022 saw a three percent growth in the ridership rate, in comparison with the same period in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic. It is an important indicator of the rising demand for public transport as well as the resurgence of economic activity in Dubai.”
Al Tayer said, “Dubai Metro ridership on both the Red and Green Lines reached 109.1 million riders in the first half of 2022, with Burjuman and Union stations accounting for the biggest share of riders. On both the Red and Green Lines, Burjuman Station served 6.2 million riders, while Union Station was used by 5.3 million riders.”
In the first half of 2022, Dubai Tram transported 3.6 million riders, public buses served 78.6 million riders and marine transport (abras, water bus, water taxi, and ferry) carried 8.2 million riders.
Shared mobility means (e-hailing, smart rental vehicles, Bus-On-Demand) served 16.4 million riders and taxis (Dubai Taxi, and franchise companies) transported 88.7 million riders.
“These results reflect the efficiency of RTA’s plans and programs implemented to provide diverse mobility options for people in the emirate. Dubai’s public transport network, which is fully integrated, has now become the backbone of people’s movement,” said Al Tayer.
“The network succeeded in coaxing a change and evolution in the culture and attitudes of the community towards using more public transport,” he said.
“RTA’s strategic and executive plans are built on the principle of integration. As such, the smooth traffic flow in the emirate hinges on the provision of integrated solutions for broadening and improving the networks of roads, crossings and public transport, first and last-mile mobility and shared transport,” said Al Tayer.
“It also depends on the improvement and integration of facilities for pedestrians, cyclists and upgrading traffic systems, roads and public transport to ensure optimal utilization and efficiency,” he said.
“Smooth mobility also cover the implementation of policies capable of limiting the public reliance on private vehicles and increasing the use of public and shared transport,” added Al Tayer.