Dubai Metro has eliminated more than one billion private car journeys since its launch in September, according to the chairman of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).
Mattar Mohammed Al Tayer, also director-general of the RTA, also revealed that the total cumulative benefits of the metro amounted to AED115 billion while it has also reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 2.6 million tons.
He added: “RTA has launched numerous projects and initiatives to boost the public and sustainable transport to increase the proportion of journeys made by sustainable modes and walk from 30 percent in 2020 to more than 43 percent by 2030.”
Al Tayer made the comment in an address to the main session of the Dubai International Project Management Forum (DIPMF). Attendees also included Anne-Marie Idrac, Minister of Transport of France and Dr Marc Esposito, Professor at Harvard University.
“The vision of our leader His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President, Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, aims to make the Dubai the best city for living and doing business in the world. On this ground, the Dubai Master Urban Plan 2040 was set and focused on serving the inhabitants and achieving sustainable urban development,” he said.
Al Tayer also spoke about the key success factors in future mobility based on smart technologies.

“Our leaders had anticipated the future trends of digital transformation and artificial intelligence at an early stage. In 2013, the Smart Dubai initiative was rolled out and in 2016, Dubai Strategy for Self-Driving Transport was launched with the aim to transform 25 percent of total mobility journeys in Dubai into journeys on self-driving transport means by 2030,” he said.
Idrac praised the transport infrastructure of Dubai, saying: “Over the next few years, mobility is poised to experience rapid transformation likewise e-shopping. We will see growing numbers of autonomous vehicles and expansion in non-conventional mass transit means.
“Sustainability means eco-friendly mobility in which transit means are powered by electricity and clean power. It also involves the use of smart technologies in public transport means such as the metro and tram,” she added.
Esposito added: “The UAE has gone far and wide in technological transformation in all fields. The country has a clear vision in this regard that merits it to play a key role in the future.”