Dubai Metro lifts 213m passengers since launch

More than 213 million passengers have travelled on Dubai Metro since its launch in September 2009, the emirate's transport authority said on Saturday.

Mattar Al Tayer, chairman and executive director of the Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) said riders on the Red and Green lines reached 213.3m up until the end of November.

He said the Dubai Metro had seen a "huge growth during this year" with average daily passenger numbers at about 350,000.

Al Tayer added that the number was set rise in the near future, particularly after the opening of Danube Station on the Red Line which serves Jebel Ali Industrial Area.

"It also indicates a transition in the culture and attitudes of the community towards public transit systems as people started to grasp the benefits of using public transport systems," he said in a statement.

Al Ittihad, Burjuman, Deira City Center, Mall of the Emirates and Rigga stations were the most used on the Red line.

On the Green line, Al Fahidi, Bani Yas, Al Ghubaiba, Oud Maitha and Salah Uddin were the most popular stations, the statement added.

The RTA aims to raise usage of public transit in Dubai to 30 percent of total journeys by 2030, with the rate touching 10 percent in 2011.

Dubai's RTA confirmed earlier this month that it is planning to reapply Salik charges to all taxis from the middle of January 2013.

It said that the move was aimed at encouraging more people to use the Dubai Metro system.

It added that the Salik charges would be reintroduced gradually as taxi meter systems will need to be upgraded so charges are added automatically without any intervention from the driver.