In-depth Analysis: UAE celebrates 10th anniversary of Dubai Metro operations

Dubai (Urban Transport News): The United Arab Emirates (UAE)'s most ambitious mass rail transit system project Dubai Metro is completing 10 years of successful journey on Monday. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the Dubai Metro.

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) of Dubai had launched Dubai Metro services on September 9, 2009, at 09.09.09 pm, has been marked by fabulous successes reflected by a massive number of more than 6,50,000 commuters currently using the metro service every day.

In total, more than 1.5 billion commuters have used the Dubai metro over the last 10 years. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, had inaugurated the Red Line of Dubai Metro spanning a total length of 52 km and comprising of 29 stations (includes 4 underground, 24 elevated and one at-grade). The red line connects Jebel Ali to Rashidiya through 29 metro stations.

Exactly after two years, on September 09, 2011, Sheikh Mohammed launched the Green Line o Dubai Metro spanning a total length of 23 km and comprising 18 stations (includes 6 underground and 12 elevated). The Green Line connects Etisalat Station (in Al Qusais) to Al Jaddaf near Business Bay Crossing. Both lines intersect at the Union and Burjuman stations.

Dubai Metro is the world’s largest automated driverless system and a bona fide attraction for Dubai tourists. In an exclusive interview with reporters, Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) said that the concept of Dubai Metro was driven by the vision of Sheikh Mohammed for the urban development of the UAE.

Dubai Metro is a brainchild of Sheikh Mohammed as it reflects his prudent vision for developing world-class infrastructure capable of symbolising Dubai as a global hub for finance and business. Public transport contributed to the safe and smooth mobility, improved business climate and enhanced the competitive edge of Dubai in hosting mega-events.

Sheikh Mohammed projected the metro system as the backbone of a transit system that connects hotspots in the emirate, providing safe and smooth mobility for all. To match that supreme vision, Sheikh Mohammed directed to construct metro facilities par excellence. The Dubai Metro has embellished the global profile of Dubai as a splendid metropolis, business hub, and a destination for a fancy living environment.

The metro is a gorgeous addition to Dubai’s iconic landmarks and uses state-of-the-art technology of the rail industry. Also, it has carved a niche for itself as the world’s longest driverless metro network.

Ridership on the goAl Tayer was impressed by the growing metro ridership, which reveals that the plan for increasing the share of public transport riders is heading in the right direction.

The growing number of metro users reflects the evolution in the culture of using mass transport means in the community. People started grasping the benefits of using public transport such as the peace of mind, physical relief, smooth mobility and reduced outlay on fuel and maintenance of vehicles.

Massive increase in ridership

From the start of operations on September 9, 2009, until the end of August this year, Dubai Metro has recorded a massive ridership i.e 1.5 billion. The increased in ridership can be seen as under-

• 2010: 39 million
• 2011: 69 million
• 2012: 109 million

With the launch of the Green Line in September 2011, the number of Metro riders increased to 109 million in 2012. In 2015, the ridership continued to grow and it reached 179 million. By the end of 2018, it broke the 200 million barriers and now clocking 204 million riders.

Currently, Dubai Metro serves about 650,000 commuters daily; a record that significantly surpasses the number forecasted in studies commissioned at the design phase of the project.

Dubai Metro benefits

The successful operation of the Dubai Metro resonates with RTA’s strategic objective of raising the share of public transport used in intra-emirate travel to 26 percent by 2030. Public transport shares started to make incremental growth starting at 6 percent in 2006 and going up to 17.5 percent in 2018, recording a cumulative growth rate of about 9.3 percent per annum. AI Tayer said that the massive investments of Dubai Government in the public transport infrastructure proved a hit and it supported the flourishing development witnessed by the Emirate and provided a stimulant for business and tourism.

Public transport contributed to the safe and smooth mobility, improved business climate and enhanced the competitive edge of Dubai in hosting mega-events. The indirect benefits of public transport include conserving the environment and cutting financial losses of traffic bottlenecks through deflecting the demand from private vehicles to public transit means.

Team effort

The RTA also thanked its strategic partners and their contribution to the successful operation on the 10th Anniversary of Dubai Metro. AI Tayer said that above all comes Dubai Police, and Serco, the operator of the metro network. He also showed his gratitude and thanked commuters who made the Dubai metro their ideal mobility choice and praised their compliance with the rules governing metro operation and facilities.

No vandalism reported

It is amazing to note that in the past 10 years, no act of vandalism that targeted metro facilities was reported to the RTA. The Dubai Metro has achieved the highest operational standards. The operational punctuality of Dubai Metro till the last day of August is recorded at 99.7 percent which is the highest performance indicators among the other metros across the world.

Dubai Metro completes 81 million km

As per data revealed by RTA, The Dubai Metro completed 2.348 million journeys and covered about 81.133 million km in the first 10 years. RTA aims to improve mobility within Dubai through the metro service, especially in tourist areas and central business districts. It is also planned to enhance the integration of mass transit modes in the emirate, provide a safe and smooth transit alternative, reduce carbon emissions and improve the living experience of people.

Six billion transactions recorded

According to NoI user data, the Dubai Metro has recorded 6.298 billion transactions from the start of the metro operation in September 2009 to the end of August 2019. The Nol Card is an electronic ticketing card that can be used for all mode of public transport in Dubai. The above data includes transactions at entry/exit from metro stations, buses, taxis, and marine transport as well as payment of parking fees, and card top-ups. As per data shared by the RTA, a total number of Nol cards and tickets amounted to 75.588 million.

The Urban Transport News team congratulates RTA and the entire team on the 10th anniversary of Dubai Metro's successful operations.