Data from Dubai’s ride-hailing sector in 2025 shows how residents and visitors moved around the city, highlighting busiest neighbourhoods, peak travel times, and record-breaking trips over the year.
Business Bay was the most popular drop-off location, while Dubai Mall led as the top booked attraction. Residential areas showed distinct patterns, with Jumeirah Village Circle seeing the highest number of early-morning trips, and Dubai Marina recording the most late-night bookings, according to Zed, Dubai’s homegrown ride-hailing platform.
Travel distances
The longest ride by distance stretched 265 kilometres, while the shortest was just 450 metres. The longest journey by time lasted 224 minutes, and individual riders clocked up to 572 trips in the year, underlining how ride-hailing covers both long-distance travel and daily commuting needs.
Peak days and times
The busiest booking day occurred on October 30, while March 24 saw the most completed trips, reflecting seasonal travel peaks. In terms of timing, 6 pm emerged as the most popular hour for rides, coinciding with the transition from work to social activities.
Payment and diversity trends
Riders from 165 nationalities used the service in 2025, reflecting Dubai’s multicultural population. Cash remained the most popular payment method, accounting for 47% of trips, indicating ongoing demand for accessible payment options.
Overall, the data paints a detailed picture of how Dubai’s urban mobility operates across neighbourhoods, time periods, and trip distances. It highlights patterns of city movement, showing the interaction between work, leisure, and residential travel across Dubai.
tanvir@dubainewsweek.com
