Metro Leads as Dubai Mobility Network Logs Nearly 1.9 Million Daily Riders
Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has reported that public transport, taxis and shared mobility services carried a combined 348.1 million riders in the first half of 2026, averaging close to 1.9 million passengers a day. The figure covers the Dubai Metro, Dubai Tram, public buses, marine transport, taxis and shared mobility options including ride-hailing vehicles, hourly rental cars and on-demand buses.
The Dubai Metro remained the backbone of the network, carrying 136.5 million passengers and accounting for 39.2 per cent of total ridership. Taxis followed with 88.9 million trips, or 25.5 per cent of the total, while public buses carried 85.1 million passengers, representing 24.4 per cent. Marine transport services carried 8.1 million passengers and the Dubai Tram recorded 3.8 million riders over the same six-month period. Limousine services added a further 5.7 million passenger trips.
RTA Points to Self-Driving Taxis and Air Taxis as Next Steps
RTA officials said the ridership figures reflect continued growth in demand for integrated mobility across Dubai, supported by the emirate's expanding public transport infrastructure and efforts to encourage residents and visitors to shift away from private car use. The authority has already begun operating self-driving taxis in parts of the city as part of a phased rollout, with commercial air taxi services planned to launch later in the year. The RTA also continues to expand complementary services, including a recently widened electric bicycle delivery programme now covering eleven areas of Dubai, as part of its wider strategy to modernise last-mile transport and logistics. Officials said the network's performance during the first half of the year positions Dubai to meet rising demand through the remainder of 2026 as new mobility projects, including the Dubai Loop, progress toward completion.
