Dubai RTA Records 8.2 Million Riders During Eid Al Adha Holiday
By Mohammed
Dubai’s public transport network recorded **8.2 million riders** during the Eid Al Adha 2026 holiday, highlighting the city’s growing reliance on public and shared mobility services during major holidays.
According to Dubai’s [Roads and Transport Authority](https://www.rta.ae/), the figure covers the five-day Eid Al Adha holiday period from **Monday, May 25 to Friday, May 29, 2026**.
The total includes passengers using Dubai Metro, Dubai Tram, public buses, marine transport, taxis and shared mobility services.
## Dubai Metro carried the highest number of riders
[Dubai Metro](https://www.rta.ae/) recorded the largest share of passengers during the holiday, with the Red and Green Lines carrying **3.3 million riders**.
The strong Metro usage reflects how important the service has become during high-demand periods, especially when families, residents and visitors move between shopping malls, tourist areas, residential communities and major attractions.
Dubai Metro remains one of the city’s most used public transport options because of its connectivity, frequency and access to key areas across the emirate.
## Buses, taxis and marine transport also saw strong demand
Public buses transported **1.73 million passengers** during the Eid Al Adha holiday.
Taxi services, including [Dubai Taxi](https://www.dubaitaxi.ae/) and franchise company vehicles, carried **2.3 million riders**, showing continued demand for point-to-point transport during the holiday period.
Dubai Tram served **114,300 riders**, while marine transport services recorded **304,300 passengers**.
Shared mobility services, including smart app vehicles, hourly rental vehicles and Bus-On-Demand, recorded **402,700 riders**.
## Why Eid holidays increase public transport demand
During Eid holidays, Dubai usually sees higher movement across malls, beaches, airports, tourist attractions, family gathering spots and entertainment destinations.
Public transport becomes especially important during these periods because it helps reduce road congestion and gives residents and visitors more convenient travel options.
Extended service timings, better connectivity and multiple transport choices help the city manage large passenger volumes during major events and public holidays.
## Dubai’s transport network is becoming more digital
RTA has also highlighted the growing use of its digital channels.
Residents and visitors increasingly use online services, apps and digital platforms to plan trips, check routes, manage transport services and complete mobility-related transactions.
This reflects Dubai’s wider shift towards smart mobility and digital government services, supported by platforms such as [RTA Dubai](https://www.rta.ae/) and the [Government of Dubai](https://www.dubai.ae/).
## Why this matters
The Eid Al Adha ridership numbers show how central public transport has become to daily movement in Dubai.
With millions of passengers using Metro, buses, taxis, marine transport and shared mobility services during just five days, the figures highlight the importance of reliable public transport during holidays and peak travel periods.
For residents and visitors, it also shows that planning journeys through public transport can be one of the easiest ways to move around Dubai during busy public holidays.
## Source Credits
Information source/resource owners: Khaleej Times, Government of Dubai Media Office, Roads and Transport Authority, ARN News Centre, Gulf News.
## Image Credits
Image credit/resource owners: Government of Dubai Media Office, RTA, Khaleej Times.