Dubai public transport recorded a 12% dip in H1 2026.
Journey numbers and mode breakdown
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) reported 348.1 million trips from January to June 2026, a 12 percent decline from the 395.3 million trips logged in the same period of 2025. The data covers the Dubai Metro, tram, public buses, marine transport, taxis and shared‑mobility services.
On a daily basis, the network saw about 1.9 million journeys, down from 2.18 million in the first half of 2025. The reduction spans all modes, from rail to road‑based services.
The Metro remained the most popular option, delivering 136.5 million individual journeys on its Red and Green Lines – 39.2 percent of all trips – down from 143.9 million the year before.
Taxis accounted for 88.9 million journeys, representing 25.5 percent of total trips. That figure is 16 percent lower than the 103.5 million rides recorded in the first half of 2025.
Public buses completed 85.1 million journeys, a drop from 95.7 million. Dubai Tram trips fell to 3.8 million from 4.9 million, while marine transport services logged 8.1 million journeys compared with 9.7 million a year earlier. Shared‑mobility rides also slipped, falling from 37.6 million to 25.7 million.
RTA outlook and future plans
“This ecosystem is strengthening the confidence of residents and visitors in public transport and embedding a culture of sustainable mobility,”
— Mattar Al Tayer, Director General, RTA
The RTA continues to invest in expanding infrastructure and improving service efficiency, positioning public transport as the most efficient and sustainable daily mobility choice. Mattar Al Tayer noted that 22.3 percent of all journeys in Dubai were made by public transport in 2025, up sharply from just 6 percent in 2006.
Dubai’s population crossed 4.5 million by the end of 2025 and reached 4.58 million, marking a 7.5 percent year‑on‑year increase. The growing resident base underscores the need for a resilient public transport system.
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