The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has reported that the number of users of public transportation in Dubai, including the Dubai Metro, Tram, public buses, and marine transport, along with taxi services and ridesharing options, reached approximately 395.3 million passengers in the first half of 2025. This figure shows a growth from around 361.2 million passengers in the same period of 2024, marking an increase of 9%. The average daily ridership during this period was about 2.18 million passengers, compared to roughly 1.98 million passengers during the first half of 2024.
His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, the RTA Director General and Chairman of the Board, emphasized that the consistent rise in the number of public transportation users reflects the confidence of passengers in the system’s efficiency and the quality of services provided by the authority across various transportation modes. The RTA is dedicated to offering comfortable, safe, and sustainable transportation solutions for all community segments. He noted that the public transport system in Dubai has undergone significant enhancements, establishing a robust infrastructure and a range of options that are now fundamental to the mobility of residents and visitors. As a result of these initiatives, the proportion of trips made via public and shared transportation has increased from 6% in 2006 to 21.6% in 2024.
Al Tayer also mentioned that the RTA is working according to a clear vision aimed at making public transport the preferred choice for daily commuting among residents and visitors. This includes smart expansion of transit lines and networks, improving connectivity and integration between stations and key areas, and providing comprehensive mobility solutions. Currently, the RTA is executing the Blue Line project for the Dubai Metro, which spans 30 kilometers and includes 14 stations, serving nine vital areas with an estimated population of one million according to the Dubai Urban Plan 2040. Additionally, earlier agreements were signed for the supply of 637 buses of various sizes, compliant with European emissions standards of “Euro 6,” among which 40 are electric buses, the largest and first of their kind in the country. These buses are set to be delivered in 2025 and 2026, contributing to the geographic expansion of bus services across the emirate and supporting the transition of the public bus fleet to 100% electric and hydrogen buses by 2050. This month, the RTA also completed the upgrade of 16 bus passenger stations and six bus depots to enhance service quality for riders.
The Director General and Chairman stated that the Dubai Metro and taxis captured the largest share of public transport users in the first half of this year, with 36.5% for the Dubai Metro and 26% for taxis. Bus ridership accounted for 24%. May recorded the highest number of passengers with a total of 68.8 million, while other months ranged between 61 and 68 million passengers. This growth of 9% in passenger numbers compared to the same period in 2024 signifies a positive trend in Dubai’s economic activity and the effectiveness of the authority’s strategies and programs aimed at encouraging residents and visitors to utilize public transport, providing diverse mobility options. The public transport system in Dubai, with its interlinked components, serves as the backbone for mobility across different areas of the emirate and has successfully transformed the cultural attitudes of residents towards using public transportation.
Metro Stations
In the first half of 2025, the Dubai Metro, across both the red and green lines, attracted approximately 143.9 million riders. The Burjuman and Al-Riqqa stations recorded the highest passenger numbers, with Burjuman station serving 8.6 million passengers and Al-Riqqa station welcoming 6.8 million riders. The Union station followed with 6.6 million passengers. The Mall of the Emirates station had a notable ridership of 5.6 million, followed closely by the Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall station with 5.4 million and the Business Bay station with 5.3 million riders. On the green line, the Sharaf DG station topped ridership with 5.1 million, followed by the Baniyas station at 4.1 million and the Stadium station at about 3.6 million.
During the first half of this year, the Dubai Tram recorded 4.9 million riders, while public buses had 95.7 million passengers. Marine transport services served 9.7 million users, and shared transport options, which include smart app vehicles, hourly rental cars, and on-demand buses, catered to 37.6 million passengers. Taxis in Dubai transported 103.5 million riders in the first half of this year.
System Integration
The strategic and operational plans being implemented by the RTA emphasize the importance of integration among various modes of public and shared transport. This integration aims to facilitate smooth and easy mobility throughout Dubai. Plans include the development and expansion of road networks and all elements of the public transport system, including the Metro, Tram, buses, marine transport, and first and last mile services. The RTA is also enhancing pedestrian and cycling facilities and interconnecting them, as well as upgrading essential traffic management and transport systems to maximize the efficiency of the public transport network. Policies are being applied to encourage the public to reduce reliance on private vehicles while increasing their use of alternative transit options, including public transport and shared mobility. These plans aim to continuously promote the role of public transport within the mobility system and achieve the authority’s strategic indicators, aiming to raise the percentage of trips using public transport and shared mobility to 25% by 2030.