Mass transit means in Dubai transported a whopping 551.7 million riders in 2017, with daily ridership clocking 1.51 million. The Dubai Metro accounted for 36 per cent of the total commuters, followed by taxis (32 per cent), and public buses (28 per cent).

The month of March recorded the highest number of commuters, with over 49 million riders transported. The breakdown per mode (for March) was as follows: Dubai Metro - 18 million riders; taxis - 15.677 million; buses - 13.534 million; marine transit means - 1.288 million, and Dubai Tram - 561,000.

December was the second busiest month, with number of commuters at 48.85 million. The number of riders was similar in January, April, May, October and November, standing at an average of 47 million riders per month.

In most other months of 2017, the number of riders ranged from 40 to 43 million.

Mattar Al Tayer, director-general and chairman of the board of executive directors of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), said: "Comprising a full range of integrated services, the public transport network in Dubai has become the backbone of people's mobility all over the city. The share of public transport in the mobility of people has leapfrogged from 6 per cent in 2006 to 17 per cent in 2017."

The authority is trying to push the share of public transport to 20 per cent by 2020 and 30 per cent by 2030.

"Equally important, the RTA has managed to transform the culture of various social segments and their attitudes towards using public transport. People have started to grasp the benefits associated with the use of mass transit means such as the physical relief, peace of mind, financial savings, high safety, and lower expenses," added Al Tayer.

The authority is trying to push the share of public transport to 20 per cent by 2020 and 30 per cent by 2030. "Equally important, the RTA has managed to transform the culture of various social segments and their attitudes towards using public transport. People have started to grasp the benefits associated with the use of mass transit means such as the physical relief, peace of mind, financial savings, high safety, and lower expenses," added Al Tayer.

Dubai Metro

Last year, the Dubai Metro transported 200 million riders, as compared to 191.3 million in 2016. The Red Line clocked 128.05 million riders, compared to 121.6 million in 2016. The Green Line transported 72.02 million riders last year as compared to 69.7 million in 2016.

"Burjuman and Union Stations, which are the two transfer stations at the intersection of the Red and Green Lines, accounted for the biggest chunk of riders. Burjuman Station recorded 12.45 million riders, while the Union Station clocked 10.97 million," said Al Tayer.

Other transport modes

The Dubai Tram lifted 6.02 million riders last year, compared to 5.4 million in 2016. The number of public bus riders recorded 155.03 million last year, as compared to 151.1 million riders in 2016.

The marine transport means (abras, waterbus, water taxi and Dubai Ferry) were used by 13.07 million riders last year, which is almost the same number of riders recorded in 2016.

Taxis in Dubai (comprising Dubai Taxi, Hala Taxi and franchise companies) lifted about 175 million riders last year.

Editor's Note: This article was originally published in Thomson Reuters Zawya on Saturday February 24th, 2018 http://bit.ly/ZawyaDubai