Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) reported a sharp rise in public transport use during New Year’s Eve 2026, as millions moved across the city for celebrations.
More than 2.8 million passengers used public transport, taxis and shared mobility services during the night, reflecting higher demand compared to the previous year.
RTA said total ridership reached 2,836,859 passengers on New Year’s Eve 2026, marking a 13 per cent increase from 2,502,474 passengers recorded during New Year’s Eve 2025.
The figures include users of the Dubai Metro, trams, buses, taxis, marine transport, e-hailing services and shared mobility options.
Metro and tram use
Dubai Metro services on the Red and Green Lines carried 1,249,636 passengers during the celebrations. Dubai Tram services recorded 58,052 passengers over the same period.
Public buses and bus-on-demand services transported 503,264 passengers across the city.
Taxis and mobility
Taxis carried 661,538 passengers during the night, while marine transport services recorded 76,745 users across all routes. E-hailing services transported 286,135 passengers, and shared mobility services were used by 1,489 people.
RTA said the increase in ridership was supported by an integrated traffic and operational plan implemented in coordination with the Dubai Event Security Committee and other relevant authorities. The plan included traffic management measures and temporary road closures to support safe and smooth movement across the emirate during the celebrations.
