Dubai Metro

Cutting car dependency in Dubai

Dubai’s flagship metro is attracting growing numbers of passengers

 
The Dubai Metro in the United Arab Emirates is the centrepiece of a successful programme to boost public transport in one of the world’s fastest-growing cities.
 
Dubai’s fully-automated metro network provides a fast and comfortable alternative to road journeys. Ridership has continued to grow since the first line opened eight years ago and rose more than 7% between 2015 and 2016. Passengers took more than 191 million journeys on the metro last year – trips that might otherwise have been made by car. 
 
A comprehensive technology package for the Dubai Metro provided by Thales plays a vital part in helping the customer, Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), to attract and retain passengers.
 
Thales’ communications-based train control solution, SelTrac^TM CBTC, is among the technologies driving the success of the metro. This is deployed across the entire 75km network and meets the customer’s need for safe and highly reliable driverless operations with low operating and maintenance costs.
 
Easy ticketing plays a vital part in making the metro attractive for passengers. The contactless ticketing system provided by Thales for the Dubai Metro can also be used on buses, water buses and at car parks. In addition, Thales has deployed its market-proven WiLiX car park management system at car parks linked to the metro.
 
Thales also provided a comprehensive passenger information system and Wi-Fi connectivity for every train on the network, so passengers can make the most of their time as they travel across the city.