Dubai public transport records 702 mn riders in 2023

According to Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), the number of passengers of public transport and shared mobility in Dubai amounted to around 702 million riders in 2023. It reflects an increase of 13 per cent when compared to the ridership numbers in 2022, which was 621.4 million. The average daily ridership of public transport, shared mobility and taxis clocked 1.92 million in 2023 compared to 1.7 million riders in 2022.

Mattar Al Tayer, Director General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors, RTA, expressed his delight over the consistent annual increase in public transport usage, as well as the 34 per cent rise in shared mobility ridership compared to 2022.

“These indicators stem from substantial investments and concerted efforts to promote public transport, highlighted by the launch of Dubai Metro, the world's longest driverless metro network extending 90 km, the 11 km-long Dubai Tram, and the extension of the bus routes from 2,095 km to 3,967 km (in both directions) from 2006 to 2023.

It also includes deploying a modern fleet of public buses comprising 1,400 buses compatible with the European specifications for low carbon emissions "Euro 6", and operating an integrated marine transport network including traditional Abras, Dubai Ferry, and water taxis,” said Al Tayer.

“Dubai Metro attracted the largest proportion of the public transport, shared mobility and taxi ridership in 2023, amounting to 37%, compared to 36% in 2022, whereas, taxis acquired 28% compared to 29.5% in 2022. It is a good indicator of people shifting to public transport modes that serve a growing number of riders.

"The share of public bus riders hit 25%, and shared mobility riders grew from 5% in 2022 to 6% in 2023. Meanwhile, marine transport and Dubai Tram maintained their ridership levels, which amounted to 3% for marine transport, and 1% for Dubai Tram.

“December 2023 recorded an all-time high monthly ridership touching 64.9 million coinciding with the UAE's hosting of the Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC (COP 28), followed by October which saw 64.2 million riders, and November which recorded 64 million riders. Ridership rates in other months ranged from 54 to 60 million.

Public transport and shared mobility means as well as taxis made 144 million trips, with over 114 million for taxis, and 25 million for shared mobility. October was the busiest month in terms of the number of trips recording 13.3 million trips, followed by November and December with 13 million trips each,” explained Al Tayer.