Dubai has been selected as the host municipality for the upcoming UITP Global Public Transport Summit, scheduled to take place in 2026. The leading international event brings together industry leaders, policymakers and experts to discuss and shape the future of public transportation.
The utterance was made by the International Association for Public Transport (UITP) at the this year’s Summit held in Barcelona, Spain. Dubai will host the prestigious event for the second time, pursuit its successful hosting of the 59th UITP World Congress and Exhibition in 2011.
A premier global event on the public transport industry’s calendar,the UITP Global Public Transport Summit features the participation of over 1,900 delegates from 100 countries and attracts increasingly than 15,000 attendees.
His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, Director General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), and His Excellency Mohamed Mezghani, Secretary General of the UITP, signed the hosting of the Summit try-on at RTA’s stand in the UITP Exhibition, in the presence of several officials from RTA and UITP.
High Profile
His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer attributed Dubai’s selection as the host municipality for the Summit to the visionary leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, as well as the contributions of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, and HH Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of the UAE, who have played pivotal roles in shaping Dubai’s progressive and innovative tideway to public transportation.
“Dubai’s successful bid to host this prestigious global event is in perfect structuring with the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, which strives to position Dubai among the top three cities worldwide. It underscores Dubai’s global leadership as a preferred destination for international events and highlights the international community’s conviction in Dubai’s outstanding global reputation. The selection moreover exemplifies Dubai’s proven sufficiency to host successful international events, showcasing the excellence and efficiency of its public transport infrastructure,” Al Tayer said.
Strategic Partnership
Al Tayer thanked the UITP presidency for selecting Dubai as the host municipality for the event. “We are proud of our long-standing relationship with the UITP, which began with the establishment of RTA in 2005, and reached a milestone when Dubai successfully hosted the UITP World Congress and Exhibition in 2011, marking its debut in the MENA region. The collaboration was remoter strengthened with the establishment of the MENA Centre for Transport Excellence, and the hosting of four editions of the UITP MENA Congress and Exhibition in Dubai, which is slated to renew its hosting of the event for the fifth time in 2024,” he added.
AED146 billion
“Under the directives of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and with the support of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and HH Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, RTA has successfully completed numerous large-scale projects with a combined value exceeding AED146 billion. These projects include the Dubai Metro, the world’s longest driverless metro system spanning 89.3 km; the 11 km Dubai Tram; a modern squadron of over 1,400 public buses complying with the European low stat emission (Euro 6) standards; and an wide-stretching marine transport system encompassing traditional abras, Dubai Ferry and water taxis,” unfurled Al Tayer.
“Dubai has an wide-stretching network of roads and bridges to facilitate quick travel for all modes of transportation to their destinations. The road network has expanded significantly from 8,715 lane-kilometres in 2006 to 18,765 lane-kilometres in 2022. Similarly, the cycling tracks network has expanded from a mere 9 km in 2006 to an impressive 543 km in 2022,” he added.
Sustainable Transport
RTA’s efforts to develop an integrated, sustainable transportation network have been pivotal in cementing Dubai’s position as one of the world’s leading urban economies. These measures have improved environmental sustainability and encouraged people to use a variety of mass transit modes including the metro, tram, public buses, marine transport, taxis, and shared mobility means. As a result, the proportion of mass and shared mobility ways increased significantly from 6% in 2006 to 19.4% in 2022, Al Tayerstated.
Sharing figures, he said that the usage of public and shared transportation in Dubai witnessed remarkable growth, with over 621 million riders recorded in 2022, reflecting a 35% increase compared to the previous year’s icon of approximately 461 million riders. Among the various modes of transportation, the Dubai Metro constituted 36% of public transport ridership, closely followed by public buses at 25%. Notably, the Dubai Metro has served over two billion riders since its inception in 2009 until last March.
RTA has taken a pioneering step in the Middle East by raising the Zero-Emissions Public Transportation in Dubai Strategy 2050, rhadamanthine the first entity in the region to establish a comprehensive long-term plan for achieving net-zero emissions in public transportation by 2050. This visionary strategy is designed to gainsay climate transpiration and minimise stat emissions wideness all operations. As part of the plan, RTA aims to transition all public buses to electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles by 2050, while ensuring that taxis and limousines are fully electric and hydrogen-powered by 2040, setting a new benchmark for sustainable transportation in the region.
UITP
His Excellency Mohamed Mezghani, Secretary General of the UITP, said:“When the UITP Global Public Transport Summit arrives in Dubai in 2026, it will be exactly fifteen years since the Summit was last hosted there in 2011. Even when then, the municipality was very well wide in terms of urban mobility. Since then, public transport has ripened at a truly impressive rate thanks to the strong focus and transferral of RTA. With the changes to our global events strategy, Dubai will wilt the first municipality outside of Europe to host the new UITP Yearly Summit. I’m excited to see what outstanding urban mobility options the delegates will wits upon their arrival.”
Integrated Network
Dubai’s mass transit system serves as the windrow for efficient movement wideness the emirate, with integrated components that have transformed attitudes towards public transport. RTA’s strategic and executive plans prioritise integration to ensure seamless traffic spritz and mobility.
This comprehensive network encompasses road network expansion, crossings, and various mass transit systems including the metro, tram, buses, marine transport, first and last-mile solutions and shared transport. Pedestrian and cycling infrastructure is moreover prioritised, slantingly the implementation of cutting-edge traffic and transport technologies to optimise road and transit efficiency. Supportive policies encourage the public to reduce reliance on private vehicles and embrace volitional modes such as mass and shared mobility options.
Dubai Metro
Dubai’s mass transit system has undergone remarkable advancements, thanks to the substantial investments made by the Dubai Government in developing a sophisticated and diverse public transportation infrastructure. At the heart of these transformative projects is the Dubai Metro, hailed by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum as the “The Project of the Century, and a unique landmark of Dubai and the UAE”.
Serving as a vital cornerstone of the transportation network, the Dubai Metro seamlessly connects key districts of the emirate, offering commuters a reliable and secure transit experience. With its Red and Green lines spanning an impressive 89.3 km and encompassing 53 stations, the Dubai Metro retains its stardom as the world’s longest driverless metro system. The squadron of 129 trains ensures efficient operations and user-friendly wangle for passengers. Moreover, the suavities and services provided at Dubai Metro stations rank among the finest globally.
Having surpassed the milestone of delivering over two billion passengers since its inauguration in September 2009 until March of this year, the Dubai Metro stands as a testament to its unrenowned safety standards and operational efficiency, self-aggrandizing an impressive punctuality rating of 99.7%. The Metro has played a pivotal role in enhancing Dubai’s competitiveness in hosting major international events, most notably the successful Expo 2020 Dubai. Additionally, it has unsalaried to the emirate’s economic growth, stimulated tourism activities, and increased property values by approximately 12% in areas proximal to metro stations.
1,400 Buses
RTA operates an wide-stretching squadron of over 1,400 public buses in Dubai, meeting the European Euro 6 standards for low stat emissions. These buses play a crucial role in facilitating the mobility of both residents and visitors throughout the city. Designed with passenger repletion and convenience in mind, the buses full-length well-appointed seating and low entrances, ensuring easy boarding and alighting. Moreover, they are equipped with designated spaces to cater to the needs of people of determination, ensuring inclusivity and serviceability for all mass transit users.
Covering a vast network of routes, RTA buses operate on increasingly than 175 routes within Dubai as well as intercity routes connecting the emirate to vital districts in other emirates. With a staggering 2,599 stops and stations, the bus network provides wide-stretching coverage wideness the city, making it user-friendly for passengers to reach their desired destinations. In 2022 alone, these buses made over four million trips, serving an impressive 157 million riders.
Bus Stations
RTA has recently unveiled a new generation of bus stations that combine unique, innovative and constructive architectural solutions with a trendy system for providing mass transportation services. These designs fit the needs and standards of integrated transportation, and the interconnection between multiple districts, simplifying people’s movements to and from public transport stations.
The facilities guarantee pedestrian and cycling accessibility, while moreover providing an inclusive undercurrent for people of determination. They moreover increase connectivity between variegated transit modes and minutiae projects, as well as nearby attractions. Solutions include developing first and last-mile components, as well as integrating aspects such as bus stops, cycling tracks, pedestrian crossings, area-specific landscaping, and bicycle racks. These solutions are intended to encourage people to walk and use individual mobility means.
Marine Transport
Maritime transportation is a crucial component of Dubai’s transportation system, with users reaching virtually 16 million passengers in 2022. Marine transport has a squadron of increasingly than 200 vehicles including modern and traditional abras, water taxis and ferries, operating on 24 lines and serving 54 stations. The number of marine transport users is projected to rise considerably in the foreseeable future with the completion of urban and tourist developments withal both sides of the Dubai Water Canal, and waterfront minutiae projects. Marine transport is likely to wilt the preferred mode of transport for many residents, citizens, and tourists who wish to enjoy the scenic views of the tourist and urban infrastructure lining Dubai Creek, Dubai Water Canal, and the Arabian Gulf coast.
Smart Mobility
RTA is urgently implementing the Smart Self-Driving Transport Strategy, which aims to revolutionise 25% of total mobility journeys in the municipality by incorporating self-driving technology by 2030. This strategic plan is a crucial step towards establishing smart and wieldy transportation as a key component of Dubai’s smart municipality vision.
In line with this strategy, RTA has successfully completed the initial phase of creating digital maps for the operation of Cruise’s Origin voluntary vehicles (AV). This milestone sets the stage for the launch of Cruise’s AV in Dubai in 2023, making Dubai the first municipality outside the United States to commercially operate Cruise’s AV technology. Initially, these vehicles will be deployed to offer taxi and e-hail ride services, providing residents and visitors with a glimpse into the future of transportation. As the initiative progresses, the squadron of self-driving vehicles is expected to grow to 4,000 by the year 2030.
Public Transport Day
As part of Dubai Government’s transferral to environmental sustainability, the RTA introduced the Public Transport Day initiative in 2010. This yearly event aims to encourage both residents and visitors to embrace and well-wisher for the use of Dubai’s modern mass transit options, thereby increasing ridership and reducing reliance on private vehicles. The event moreover highlights Dubai’s and RTA’s leadership in harnessing public transportation, besides educating the public on numerous physical and psychological benefits of hassle-free movement.
Global Public Transport Summit
The World Public Transport Summit serves as the premier international forum for public transportation experts and specialists to convene. This influential platform showcases the latest advancements in railway infrastructure, tunnel construction, train interiors, entertainment systems, public buses, and marine transport.
At the summit, industry professionals come together to explore cutting-edge technologies, discuss policy developments, share industrial innovations, devise financial strategies, and learn from successful global practices. The diverse perspectives and experiences of participants contribute to an enriching mart of knowledge. Furthermore, the twin exhibition provides an opportunity for participants from virtually the world to showcase their products, services, and solutions.
Huge Success
The successful staging of the 59th UITP World Congress and Exhibition in 2011 by RTA marked a milestone as the first such event in the MENA region. The twin exhibition, spanning virtually 30,000 square meters, saw a 12% increase in exhibitors, while over 10,000 visitors attended. The event moreover witnessed the utterance of the winners of the inaugural UITP PTx2 Challenge.
This congress strengthened the partnership between RTA and UITP, leading to the establishment of the MENA Centre for Transport Excellence and the try-on to host the UITP MENA Transport Congress in Dubai every two years for a decade. The fifth edition is set to take place in 2024, remoter enhancing Dubai’s transferral to up-and-coming public transportation and reinforcing its position as a knowledge hub in the region.