Dubai Metro hits new milestone with over two billion riders

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) said the number of Metro train riders has surpassed two billion since it first opened to the public on September 9, 2009.

The metro’s Red Line transported 1.342 billion commuters while the Green Line served 673.531 million commuters.

RTA said the Dubai Metro has maintained a punctuality rate of 99.7 per cent, surpassing international safety standards and demonstrating exceptional operational efficiency. The metro’s average daily ridership surpassed 616,000 riders in 2022.

Its continued growth and success serve as a testament to Dubai’s commitment to providing safe and reliable transportation to commuters.

Today, the number of Dubai Metro passengers has reached 2 billion since its inauguration on 9 September 2009. Dubai Metro has 129 trains, 53 stations, and serves more than 600,000 passengers per day at a punctuality of 99.7%. The idea of ​​the Dubai Metro is novel in the region.… pic.twitter.com/a7WG90pQFo

— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) April 23, 2023

“The idea of ​​the Dubai Metro is novel in the region. Although there were some conflicting opinions, we went ahead with a bold decision and we delivered what we promised,” Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai said in a tweet.

RTA has a fleet of 129 modern trains that caters to the mobility needs of the community across the city’s 53 metro stations.

“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,” Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai said adding that the city will continue to develop highly efficient and reliable transport systems to facilitate smooth and safe mobility in the city.

Dubai Metro’s new milestone

Meanwhile, the Dubai Metro has become the backbone of a transit system that connects various key districts in the city while ensuring safe and smooth mobility for riders.

Read: Dubai’s RTA receives ICXS certificate for Dubai Metro and Tram

Mattar Al Tayer, director-general and chairman of the 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 barriers 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 per cent. The total number of Dubai Metro users since its inauguration through January of 2023 exceeded two billion,” added Al Tayer.

The metro is contributing to bolstering Dubai’s competitiveness in hosting global events such as Expo 2020 Dubai, which featured the construction of Route 2020 which spans 15 kilometres and connects seven stations.

It has also played a crucial role in stimulating Dubai’s economic growth, boosting tourism, besides a 12 per cent appreciation in the value of real estate properties nearby the metro stations.

The effective coordination between the Rail Agency and relevant RTA departments has contributed to the hosting of major international events such as Dubai Expo 2020, FIFA World Cup 2022 as well as major exhibitions such as Gulf Food and The Big 5 among others.

Read: Dubai Metro’s Expo 2020 station to open on June 1