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Dubai Metro could be on track for a record-setting year as it marks its milestone 15th anniversary.
The driverless public transport network welcomed more than 175 million passengers on board in the first eight months of the year, closing in on the 260 million journeys made in 2023.
It could well surpass last year's impressive figure as Dubai moves into the winter season and public transport services benefit from a continuing population boom.
Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority released data this week – to coincide with the service turning 15 – revealing the busiest Metro stations for commuters on the Green and Red lines, covering the first six months of the year. The statistics do not represent the number of individual users, but the number of times a journey started or ended at a specific station.
The two most used stations are BurJuman and Union, where the two Metro routes intersect, allowing passengers to change from one line to the other.
BurJuman station, between Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street and Khalid bin Al Waleed Road in Bur Dubai, received 7.8 million passengers from January to the end of June.
Union station in Al Rigga recorded 6.3 million passengers to take second spot in the rail rankings, closely followed by the connecting Al Rigga station on the Red line, with 6.2 million passengers. Mall of the Emirates station had 5.6 million trips, with Business Bay station next with 5.2 million. Both stations are on the Red line.
On the Green line, Sharaf DG station ranked first with 4.7 million passengers, followed by Baniyas station with 4.1 million and Stadium station with 3.3 million passengers.
Remarkable journey
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, reflected on Dubai Metro's 15th anniversary by setting a goal of 100 per cent punctuality.
Sheikh Mohammed said the efficiency of the high-speed rail service, which he launched on September 9, 2009, epitomised Dubai's culture of demanding “quality and punctuality” and its goals to provide the best living and working environment for all.
Sheikh Mohammed said Dubai Metro had been used by 2.4 billion passengers since its first trains hit the tracks 15 years ago, with an impressive punctuality rate of 99.7 per cent.
“We want it to be 100 per cent,” Sheikh Mohammed wrote on Sunday. “Commitment to appointments is a culture, a virtue and a noble cultural value.”
Dubai Metro turns 15 – in pictures
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Work under way on the Dubai Metro, near Ibn Battuta Mall, in 2008. Photo: ADMC -
Preparing the ground for Al Rashidiya station. Jeffrey E Biteng / The National -
In November 2008, a crane working on track near Emirates Tower toppled, leading to the closure of parts of Sheikh Zayed Road. Paulo Vecina / the National -
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, at Rashidiya station for the opening of the Dubai Metro, on September 9, 2009. Stephen Lock / The National -
A passenger checks the Dubai Metro map at the Mall of The Emirates station, shortly after the network opened. Stephen Lock / The National -
Passengers at the Union Dubai Metro station, shortly after the network opened. Stephen Lock / The National -
A passenger on a quiet train in 2010. Jeffrey E Biteng / The National -
Exiting Rashidiya station. Pawan Singh / The National -
A train heading from Al Karama station towards Rashidiya station. Pawan Singh / The National -
A train about to pull into Oud Metha station in 2013. Sarah Dea / The National -
A women-only carriage on the Dubai Metro. Photo: RTA -
The Dubai Metro Murals Project in 2018 Reem Mohammed / The National -
Workers at the under construction Expo 2020 metro station, in 2018. Pawan Singh / The National -
The Expo 2020 station taking shape in 2018. Pawan Singh / The National -
A train on the Expo 2020 Dubai stretch of the network. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
A train passes the Museum of the Future on Sheikh Zayed Road. Pawan Singh / The National -
A Dubai Metro train against a backdrop of Dubai skyscrapers. Chris Whiteoak / The National
