Dubai unveils public transport master plan for World Cup

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) will operate 1,382 daily metro trips, 700 additional taxis, 60 public buses and three modes of marine transit during the FIFA World Cup.

The public transport master plan will help manage the mobility of residents and visitors at fan zones in Dubai and also facilitate the movement of passengers flying through Al Maktoum International Airport to attend the tournament in Qatar, which runs from November 20 to December 18.

The city’s mass transit modes will work collectively to cater to World Cup fans.

The RTA said its master plan will take real-time traffic conditions into account to allocate resources dynamically.

Several Dubai hotspots will live stream the World Cup matches, including Dubai Harbour, which will serve as a primary gathering area for foreign and local fans.

Fans Zones

Dubai Harbour will be a key destination for foreign and local supporters. The RTA also supports other fan zones in the city, including Barasti, Dubai Media City, and Zero Gravity.

Flexible Plans

The plan for managing traffic and mobility at the fan zone in Dubai Harbour has been developed in partnership with Dubai Police and the organisers.

Buses, taxis and water transport will be deployed to transfer spectators from Bluewaters Island to Dubai Harbour.

Mobile teams monitoring fan zones will manage traffic on King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Street to streamline vehicle movement and ensure a smooth traffic flow.

Dubai Metro and Taxis

The RTA plans to run 1,382 metro trips per day during the World Cup.

In addition to its existing fleet of 11,310 taxis, the authority has allocated an additional 700 Hala cabs available through the Careem app to serve  people heading to fan zones in Dubai and travellers to and from Al Maktoum International Airport.

The taxi services will be available in these districts round-the-clock during weekends and public holidays.

Public Buses

The RTA will deploy 60 public buses to cater to fan zones.

The services will operate on specific bus routes. The new DWC1 route departs from Al Maktoum International Airport (Arrivals), passes via the Dubai Metro Expo Station, and continues to Ibn Battuta Bus Station every 30 minutes, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This route will only be operational until December 20.

The second route is F55, a metro feeder link service that will shuttle between Al Maktoum International Airport and Dubai Metro Expo Station. It runs from 5:00 am to 12 midnight at a frequency of 30 minutes.

The third route is N55, a night service from 10:00 pm until 5:00 am the next day to connect Al Maktoum International Airport and the Dubai Expo Metro Station.

Marine Transport

Two Dubai ferries and one water taxi will be allocated during the World Cup, and service timings will be synchronised with match schedules.

These water transit means will ferry riders on a line linking Bluewaters Island with Dubai Harbour, with a one-way fare of AED 25 for the economy class and AED 35 for the gold class.