Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) recorded a sharp rise in mobility demand in 2025, with public transport, shared mobility services and taxis collectively carrying 802.1 million riders, up from 747.1 million in 2024.
The total covers passengers using Dubai Metro, Dubai Tram, public buses and marine transport such as abras, ferries and water taxis, along with app-based vehicles, hourly rental vehicles, on-demand buses and taxis operated by Dubai Taxi Corporation and franchise firms.
Average daily ridership climbed to 2.2 million passengers, compared with 2 million the previous year. Premium limousine services, which are tracked separately and excluded from the total ridership count, carried 23.6 million riders in 2025, up from 19.2 million in 2024.
RTA also reported 167.3 million trips across public transport, shared mobility and taxis, including 120 million taxi trips and more than 41 million shared mobility trips. October and November each posted the highest trip volume at 15.1 million.
In terms of monthly passenger volume, October 2025 ranked first with 72.8 million riders, followed closely by November at 72.6 million and December at 71.4 million. Ridership during the other months ranged between 61 million and 69 million.
Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA, said the rise reflects changing travel behavior in the emirate, pointing to a 7.4 percent growth in public transport and shared mobility use, alongside a 30 percent jump in shared mobility ridership compared with 2024.
He said the results reflect long-term infrastructure spending and improvements in system integration, positioning public transport as a key component of sustainable planning and economic development.
Al Tayer said, “The continued rise in demand across Dubai’s public transport system demonstrates the network’s ability to operate with high efficiency, supported by the seamless integration of metro, tram, buses, marine transport and shared mobility services. The diversity of options caters to daily mobility needs, providing flexible and safe alternatives that serve different user segments.”
He added, “RTA continues to advance an intelligent, sustainable and integrated public transport system by expanding metro, tram and bus networks, enhancing the efficiency of marine transport, and supporting shared mobility solutions. We are also deploying artificial intelligence technologies in data management and in designing the customer journey, in line with Dubai’s future aspirations as a leading global city and reinforcing its position among the world’s best cities to live, work and visit.”
He continued, “RTA intends to expand dedicated lanes for buses and taxis during 2025 and 2026, including the implementation of six new corridors extending 13 km, increasing the total length of dedicated bus and taxi lanes to 20 km. These lanes will contribute to a 10 per cent increase in ridership, improve bus on-time performance by 42 per cent, and reduce bus journey times by 41 per cent.
“We are also studying a trackless tram project across eight locations in Dubai. This advanced, autonomous and environmentally friendly system operates on electric power and uses a virtual track guided by camera-based detection of painted road markings. It offers lower costs and shorter implementation timelines compared with conventional tram systems.”
Dubai Metro remained the dominant mode of transport, accounting for 37 percent of total users. Taxis followed with 26 percent, down slightly from 27 percent in 2024, while public buses represented 25 percent. Shared mobility increased its share to 9 percent in 2025, up from 7.5 percent in 2024 and 6.2 percent in 2023. Marine transport and Dubai Tram held steady at 2 percent and 1 percent respectively.
RTA attributed the shift to sustained growth in public transport demand, supported by improved service reliability and stronger connections between metro, buses and shared mobility services, strengthening the network’s ability to serve both residents and visitors.
Dubai Metro carried 294.7 million riders across its Red and Green lines in 2025, reflecting a 7 percent increase compared with 2024. BurJuman Metro Station and Al Rigga Metro Station recorded the highest passenger volumes for the year, with BurJuman handling 17.8 million riders and Al Rigga reaching 13.8 million.
On the Red Line, Union Metro Station led ridership with 13.6 million riders, followed by Mall of the Emirates Metro Station with 11.2 million and Burj Khalifa Dubai Mall Metro Station with 10.9 million.
On the Green Line, Sharaf DG Metro Station recorded 10.5 million riders, followed by Baniyas Square Metro Station with 8.4 million and Stadium Metro Station with 7.5 million.
Public buses carried 197.2 million riders in 2025, a 5 percent rise year-on-year. Marine transport served 18.4 million riders, up 3 percent, while Dubai Tram transported 9.9 million riders, reflecting 5 percent growth.
Shared mobility services carried 72.9 million riders, recording the fastest growth rate at 30 percent. Taxis transported 209 million riders in 2025, a 4 percent increase compared with the previous year.
