Dubai’s public transport network witnessed unprecedented demand during the recent New Year’s Eve celebrations. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) successfully managed a staggering 2,836,859 passengers throughout the festive night.
This milestone represents a 13% increase over the ridership recorded the previous year. Such growth highlights the rising trust in the emirate’s highly integrated and efficient transport systems.
Strategic Deployment and Massive Operations
The RTA executed a comprehensive operational plan to ensure a seamless experience for all commuters. To facilitate this massive movement, the authority utilized several critical resources and dedicated field personnel:
- A dedicated team of 5,565 employees was deployed to manage the crowd flows.
- The Dubai Metro operated continuously for 43 hours to provide non-stop city connectivity.
- A combined fleet of 32,000 taxis and limousines remained active to ferry passengers.
- Around 1,300 public buses were utilized to transport visitors to various celebration zones.
- Management occurred through 10 control centers that monitored traffic conditions in real time.
Dominance of Dubai Metro and Public Transit
The Dubai Metro remained the backbone of the night, carrying the largest share of passengers. It moved 1,249,636 individuals across both the Red and Green lines during the festivities. Public buses also played a vital role, serving over 503,000 commuters seeking reliable travel.
Meanwhile, the Dubai Tram carried 58,052 people across various coastal districts. Taxis remained a primary choice, accounting for 661,538 passenger trips across the entire emirate.
حرصت #هيئة_الطرق_و_المواصلات على ضمان انسيابية الحركة المرورية، وتعزيز خدمات المواصلات العامة في دبي ليلة رأس السنة 2026، دعماً للاحتفالات وتسهيلاً لتنقل الجمهور. وبفضل التنسيق الدقيق وتكثيف التواجد الميداني للفرق المختصة، تمكّن جميع الركاب من التنقل بأمان وسهولة.
وتؤكد هذه… pic.twitter.com/dB8vC0Y4wB— RTA (@rta_dubai) January 1, 2026
Multi-Modal Coordination
Marine transport and e-hailing services further enhanced the mobility of the city’s diverse crowds. Water taxis and ferries carried 76,745 passengers, offering a unique perspective of the celebrations. E-hailing platforms were equally popular, providing essential transport for 286,135 residents and international visitors.
Shared mobility options, including scooters, were used by nearly 1,500 people during the evening. This coordinated effort between various transport modes ensured that the city remained accessible and safe. The record-breaking ridership underscores Dubai’s readiness to host global events, thanks to its world-class infrastructure.
Extensive planning and smart traffic management systems were key to navigating this busy New Year’s Eve in the UAE. Authorities emphasized that the integrated approach maintained the highest safety standards for all commuters.
Conclusion
Dubai’s record ridership on New Year’s Eve highlights its readiness to host global events with top infrastructure. Smart traffic systems and planning allowed precise crowd management, proving the city can handle large crowds safely. Dubai sets a global standard in urban mobility and event coordination.
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