Passengers using the Dubai’s public transport system rose in 2016 to nearly 543.6 million as compared to 539.5 million in 2015, according to figures released by the RTA’s Statistics Section, Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), has revealed.

The average daily passengers last year on Dubai’s public transport system, which comprises the metro, trams, buses, marine transit (abras, ferry, water taxi and water bus) and taxis (Dubai Taxi and franchise companies), was about 1.5 million.

"The Dubai Metro has taken the largest slice of public transport commuters accounting for 35 percent, followed by taxis (33 percent), and public buses (28 percent). December recorded the highest number in commuters and reached 47 million (m) passengers. The breakdown was as follows: Dubai Metro: 17.184m, taxis: 15.315m, buses: 12.508m, marine transit means: 1.46m, and Dubai Tram: 540,000. The number of public transport passengers reached 46.927 million in March, and 46.288 million in November," Al Tayer stated.

"Last year, the Dubai Metro registered an increase in both the Red and Green Lines of 191.3m passengers compared with 178.647m in 2015. The Red Line of Dubai Metro has seen a healthy growth in 2016 clocking 121.6m passengers compared with 1127 m in 2015. The Green Line has ferried in 2016 about 69.7m people compared with 65.942m in 2015. Burjuman and Union Stations, which are two transfer stations at the intersection of the Red and Green Lines, accounted for the biggest chunk of users with Burjuman Station recording 11.644m, and the Union Station clocking 10.522m. Al-Rigga Station was the busiest on the Red Line (8.293m travellers) followed by Deira City Center Station (7.392m), ahead of Burj Khalifa Station with 7.254m. On the Green Line, Al Fahidi Station ranked first with 7.945m passengers, followed by Baniyas Station with 6.41m, and Stadium Station with 5.665m passengers," he said.

"The Dubai Tram carried 5.4m passengers last year compared with 4.07m in 2015. The number of public bus passengers recorded was 151.1m last year as compared with 134.775m riders in 2015. Some 14m riders in 2016 used the marine transport means (abras, waterbus, water taxi and Dubai Ferry), which is almost the same number of riders recorded in 2015. Taxis (comprising Dubai Taxi, Hala Taxi and Franchise companies) have ferried 181.8m passengers last year," he added.

"Comprising a full range of integrated services, the public transport network in Dubai has become the backbone of people’s mobility in various parts of the Emirate of Dubai. RTA’s efforts in this regard contributed to the growing numbers of public transport users across the board. The share of public transport in the mobility of people has leapfrogged from 6 percent in 2006 to 16 percent in 2016. If we add taxis, the share would shoot to as high as 24 percent. RTA is endeavouring to push the share of public transport (metro, tram, buses, and water transport) to 20 percent by 2020, and 30 percent by 2030," he said.

According to Al Tayer, it was equally important that the RTA has managed to transform the culture of various segments of the community and their attitudes towards using public transport.