RTA Reports Significant Increase in Passengers for New Year’s Eve 2026

Post by : Bianca Suleiman

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) of Dubai successfully facilitated the movement of over 2.8 million passengers during the New Year’s Eve 2026 festivities, demonstrating a ridership increase of more than 13% compared to the prior year.

This growth is attributed to an extensive operational and traffic management plan, developed with collaboration from the Dubai Event Security Committee, relevant authorities, and strategic partners. Key aspects of the plan included streamlined traffic flow, temporary road closures, and improved public transport services throughout the emirate.

Official records indicate that the combined ridership of public transport, taxis, e-hailing services, marine transport, and shared mobility reached 2,836,859, up from 2,502,474 passengers during the New Year’s Eve celebrations in 2025.

The Dubai Metro was the most favored mode of transit with 1,249,636 riders on the Red and Green Lines. The Dubai Tram catered to 58,052 passengers, and public buses, along with bus-on-demand services, accounted for 503,264 users.

Taxi services accounted for 661,538 passengers, highlighting the peak demand during celebratory hours. Marine transport brought in 76,745 passengers, while e-hailing services reported 286,135 trips. Furthermore, shared mobility services registered 1,489 users.

The RTA emphasized that the effective implementation of the operational plan allowed for the safe and seamless flow of residents and visitors to celebratory locations. These outcomes further solidify Dubai’s standing as a world-class city capable of hosting large-scale events in alignment with international safety and efficiency benchmarks.