The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has revealed that the Dubai Metro has surpassed two billion riders since its launch on September 9, 2009. The Red Line has carried 1.342 billion passengers, while the Green Line has served 673.531 million.
The metro’s punctuality rate is an impressive 99.7%, surpassing international safety standards and demonstrating its operational efficiency. The continued success of the Dubai Metro highlights Dubai’s dedication to providing safe and dependable transportation for its commuters.
Commenting on the occasion, H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, said that “Dubai’s ability to build a world-class transport network was the result of the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. As part of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed’s keenness to build a city that would serve as a model for future cities, Dubai invested in several infrastructure projects featuring the highest international standards and operational efficiency to ensure the best provision of services”, His Highness added.
His Highness praised the RTA for its efforts to implementing quality projects that cater to the mobility needs of the community. “The Dubai Metro has become the backbone of a transit system that connects various key districts in the emirate, ensuring a safe and smooth mobility for riders,” His Highness said.
Highlighting the positive impact of the Dubai Metro as a sustainable and environmentally friendly public transport solution, His Highness said: “The Dubai Metro is a vital project that serves the community and reflects Dubai’s keenness to provide effective, environmentally friendly and sustainable transport solutions. Dubai will continue to develop a highly efficient and reliable transport system to facilitate smooth and safe mobility and support the emirate’s overall development goals.”
The Dubai Metro has seen consistent growth in its ridership over the years, with an average daily ridership of over 616,000 in 2022. This reflects the success of the RTA’s efforts to increase the usage of public transportation and a shift in the community’s attitude towards it. The metro has not only improved mobility for residents and visitors but also helped Dubai in hosting global events, such as the Expo 2020 Dubai. The construction of Route 2020, connecting seven stations over 15 kilometers, contributed to the success of the event. Moreover, the metro has boosted tourism and stimulated economic growth, with properties near the metro stations appreciating by 12%.
His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors, Roads and Transport Authority, said: “Statistics reveal a consistent rise in Dubai Metro ridership since the start of the service in September 2009. During the first four months after its inauguration, the metro served 6.089 million riders. By 2010, the number of riders surged from 38.089 million in 2010 to 69.007 million in 2011, the year the Green Line was inaugurated. In 2012, the metro ridership jumped to 109.049 million, reflecting a 58% growth compared to the previous year. In 2013, ridership clocked 137.759 million, and by 2014, the number soared to 164.307 million, a growth rate of over 19%. Metro ridership continued to grow, reaching 178.646 million in 2015, and the upward rise clocked 191.325 million riders in 2016 and crossed the 200.752 million barrier in 2017. By the end of 2017, the total number of metro users since its launch exceeded one billion.”
“The Dubai Metro’s ridership continued to grow steadily hitting 204.405 million riders in 2018 and 202.978 million in 2019. However, in 2020, when the world was hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, metro ridership declined due to lockdowns and precautionary measures, resulting in 113.626 million riders that year. As recovery commenced and life returned to normalcy, the ridership jumped to 151.255 million in 2021. In 2022, the Dubai Metro set a new record and the highest since its launch by serving 225.142 million riders, a remarkable growth rate of nearly 49%. The total number of Dubai Metro users since its inauguration through January of 2023 exceeded two billion.” added Al Tayer.
The Dubai Metro’s ridership growth can be attributed to various factors, such as the opening of new stations under the Route 2020 project and effective measures taken to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, according to WAM.
The Rail Agency’s coordination with other relevant RTA departments has also helped in hosting major international events like Dubai Expo 2020, FIFA World Cup 2022, and other exhibitions. The Dubai Metro is considered the world’s longest driverless metro project and the flagship project of both the RTA and Dubai’s public transport network.
The metro features the Red and Green Lines spanning over 89.3 km with 53 stations and 129 trains. The Dubai Metro stations have top-notch facilities and services. The RTA has received the largest number of Gold certificates for a transport project with (v4 BD + C: NC) classification from LEED, which is credited to several factors such as selecting the best locations for stations, implementing strategies for reducing power and water consumption, minimizing construction waste, and using recyclable building materials.
The Rail Operations Control Centre is one of the most sophisticated centres in the world, managing daily operations of the metro service on the Red and Green lines 24/7 while maintaining high levels of safety, security, and convenience for riders. It has also contributed to the Dubai Metro’s achievement of the highest international levels of safety, operational efficiency, and service punctuality.