Over 395 million rides taken on Dubai public transport in first half of 2025

RTA

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has revealed that public transport ridership in the city touched 395.3 million during the first half of 2025, marking a 9 per cent increase compared to the previous 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).

Average daily ridership reached nearly 2.18 million, up from approximately 1.98 million in the first half of 2024.

Dubai Metro and taxis recorded the highest share of ridership in the first half of this year, with the Metro accounting for 36.5 per cent and taxis for 26 per cent. Public buses made up 24 per cent of the total.

The month of May registered the highest monthly ridership, reaching 68.8 million, while figures for the other months ranged between 61 and 68 million.

"Dubai’s public transport network has undergone a major transformation, driven by advanced infrastructure and a diverse range of transit options that now form the backbone of mobility for residents and visitors across the emirate. As a result, the share of journeys using public transport and shared mobility has increased from 6 per cent in 2006 to 21.6 per cent in 2024," highlighted Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA.
 

The RTA added that Dubai Metro users across both the Red and Green Lines reached approximately 143.9 million riders during the first half of 2025.

BurJuman station (serving both the Red and Green Lines) registered 8.6 million riders, followed by Al Rigga Station with 6.8 million. Union Station (also serving both lines) came next with 6.6 million riders.

On the Red Line, Mall of the Emirates Station recorded the highest ridership after Al Rigga, with 5.6 million riders, followed by Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall Station with 5.4 million, and Business Bay Station with 5.3 million. On the Green Line, Sharaf DG Station ranked first in ridership, with 5.1 million riders, followed by Baniyas Station with 4.1 million, and Stadium Station with approximately 3.6 million.

Dubai Tram transported 4.9 million riders during the first half of this year, while public buses carried 95.7 million riders. The total number of users of all marine transport modes reached 9.7 million.

Shared mobility services, including app-based vehicles, hourly rentals, and on-demand buses, served 37.6 million riders. Meanwhile, taxi services in Dubai transported 103.5 million riders during the first half of the year.

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