The Dubai Metro celebrated the third anniversary on Sunday (09 September 2012)  since the opening of the mass transit network.
During that time the world’s longest driverless metro system has carried 184m passengers, averaging 61.3m passengers a year, or 168,037 rides a day.
However, the number of users has risen steadily, with the number users of the Red Line growing from 1.8m passengers in the month of October in 2009Â to 6m passengers per month during the second half of 2012.
The Green Line, which opened on September 9 last year, has risen from 2.4m passengers per month shortly after opening to 3m passengers in July.
H.E. Mattar Al Tayer, chairman of the board and executive director of the Roads & Transport Authority (RTA), said that the anniversary came amid successful indicators of operational efficiency, including on-time journey schedules as well as the system complying with the highest international safety standards.
“This huge success has gone beyond the boundaries of the Emirate to the world over, stamping the prominent standing of Dubai as a distinctive metropolitan city and a hub for business as well as sophisticated living standards.”
The volume of passengers indicated “a shift and evolution in the culture of the community towards embracing mass transit systems” had taken place, he said.
The RTA has the goal of raising the share of public transport to 30% of the total number of trips by 2030. In 2011, rides on public transport, including the Metro and the city busses made up 10%.
Al Tayer praised the Dubai Metro project as a brainchild of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice-president and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, citing HH’s endeavours “to provide an integrated transit system capable of matching the sweeping development seen by the Emirate and measuring up to its futuristic ambitions”.
“The Dubai Metro is also viewed as an iconic addition to the landmarks and high-flying achievements of the Dubai Emirate, particularly as it used cutting-edge technology of the rail industry, and carved a niche for itself as the world’s longest driverless metro project,” said the RTA chairman.
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