Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) revealed today that the city’s taxi sector posted growth of 7 percent in the first half of 2025 compared with the same period in 2024.
“This vital sector has seen steady growth in recent years. The total number of trips reached 59.5 million in H1 2025, rising from 55.7 million in H1 2024 and reflecting 7 percent growth, while the number of passengers rose to 103.5 million from 97 million over the same periods,” said Adel Shakri, director of planning and business development at the public transport agency, RTA.
RTA boosts service efficiency
Dubai’s RTA also revealed that Hala Taxi’s market share increased to 41.3 percent of total taxi trips in H1 2025, up from 40.3 percent in H1 2024—a rise of 2.5 percent in share. Over the same period, the number of active drivers in the sector grew from about 13,000 to nearly 14,000.
Shakri also confirmed that the sector achieved record growth across e-hailing services, hourly vehicle rental and Hala Taxi.
“The comparative figures for H1 2025 underscore the emirate’s economic vibrancy, which has cemented its position as a global destination for investment and tourism,” he commented.
He added that service efficiency has also improved, noting that “In H1 2024, approximately 70 percent of Hala Taxi trips recorded an estimated vehicle arrival time of under four minutes; in H1 2025, about 74 percent of trips were under 3.5 minutes.”
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395 million riders use public transport in H1 2025
In July 2025, the RTA revealed that public transport modes — including Dubai Metro, Dubai Tram, public buses and marine transport — along with taxis and shared mobility options such as app-based vehicles, hourly rentals and on-demand buses, served approximately 395.3 million riders in the first half of 2025. This represents a 9 percent increase compared to around 361.2 million riders during the same period in 2024. Average daily ridership reached nearly 2.18 million, up from approximately 1.98 million in the first half of 2024.
Dubai Metro and taxis recorded the highest share of ridership in the first half of this year, with the Metro accounting for 36.5 percent and taxis for 26 percent. Public buses made up 24 percent of the total. May registered the highest monthly ridership, reaching 68.8 million, while figures for the other months ranged between 61 and 68 million.
The RTA also revealed that Dubai’s public transport network has undergone a major transformation, driven by advanced infrastructure and a diverse range of transit options that now form the backbone of mobility for residents and visitors across the emirate. As a result, the share of journeys using public transport and shared mobility has increased from 6 percent in 2006 to 21.6 percent in 2024.
