Dubai's New Year Public Transport Triumph

New Year's Transport Record in Dubai: Over 2.8 Million Commuters Used Public Transport

While the world's attention was focused on nighttime fireworks and festive events, Dubai excelled in another area: organizing public transportation. On New Year's, by January 1, 2026, more than 2.8 million passengers used the city's public transport, not only an impressive number but a 30% increase from the previous year's data. This immense volume was the result of a well-thought-out transportation and operational plan developed by the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in collaboration with its strategic partners.

The Basis of Organization: Coordinated Transport Strategy

The RTA started preparations months before the celebrations, working closely with the Dubai Events Security Committee. The goal was not just transporting crowds, but ensuring safe and smooth transportation with minimal disruption to the city's traffic. As part of this, temporary road closures, traffic management systems, and additional vehicles were deployed to ensure fast and safe arrival at destinations.

Metro: The City's Lifeline

The Dubai Metro handled the largest volume, transporting more than 1.24 million passengers across its two lines – the Red and Green lines. This is a significant logistical feat, considering the metro ran all night, with increased security presence and passenger information at stations to aid smooth transit. The system's reliability and timeliness played a crucial role in making it a popular choice over car travel.

Trams, Buses, and Water Transport

The Dubai Tram also contributed to success, carrying more than 58,000 passengers during the festive period. Meanwhile, public buses and the increasingly popular bus-on-demand systems transported another 503,000 people to various city points.

Maritime transport, an iconic service of Dubai, also played an essential role. Boats, water taxis, and other vessels ferried more than 76,000 passengers along Dubai Creek, Dubai Marina, and other waterways. Approaching the city aglow from the water was a unique experience for travelers.

Taxis and E-hailing Services: Still Popular

Taxi services continued to play a significant role, facilitating travels for 661,000 passengers. E-hailing, or cars ordered through digital platforms like Careem or Uber, also generated considerable traffic: 286,000 people chose this convenient option to ring in the New Year.

Interestingly, even shared modes like electric scooters or bike-sharing participated in the New Year's movement, albeit modestly: 1,489 trips were registered through these services. This highlights the utilization of all city transportation options.

Dubai as a Global Event Handling Hub

Ensuring travel for such a volume in one night is no ordinary achievement and demonstrates that Dubai is prepared for global events infrastructurally and organizationally. The city is not only one of the world's most popular tourist destinations but also a logistics benchmark, capable of handling millions of travelers while allowing minimal traffic disruption.

According to the RTA's statement, this result affirms that their transport system is of an international standard, capable of ensuring continuous, reliable, and safe travel at any time of the year - whether on weekdays, during festive periods, or special events.

Why More People Choose Public Transport

Trust in public transport has significantly grown in Dubai in recent years. This is partly due to the vehicles' cleanliness, air-conditioning, and punctuality, and the long-term development strategy planned by the city. The RTA is continuously investing in new vehicles, stations, digital passenger information, and sustainable solutions like electric vehicles and hybrid buses.

Conclusion

The 2026 New Year celebration was memorable in Dubai not just for its fireworks and entertainment events but also for the unprecedented efficiency of public transport. The movement of over 2.8 million people was coordinated, safe, and without disruption – another proof that Dubai is not only spectacular but also a functional city where planning and implementation go hand in hand.

(Based on a statement from Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).)