Dubai’s Metro fares change track

Published: Thursday, August 11, 2011 with 7 Comments

By Jay B. Hilotin, Chief Reporter  XPRESS  www.gulfnews.com

Dubai: Metro fares will shoot up by up to 78 per cent on some routes and come down by up to 44 per cent in others, when the new re-zoning scheme kicks in with the Green Line’s rollout later this month, a senior Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) official confirmed.

* Image Credit: XPRESS/Megan Hirons Mahon * Metro goers exit at the Rashidiya Station.

* Image Credit: XPRESS/Megan Hirons Mahon * Metro goers exit at the Rashidiya Station.

Mohammad Yousuf Al Mudharreb, Director of the Unified Automated Fare Collection Department at the RTA, said: “Re-zoning was part of an earlier plan set for the Green Line’s launch. It’s not something new,” he said.

On Saturday, the RTA increased the number of zones from five to seven before the rollout of the 23-km Green Line, expected by the end of this month.

The new Zone 6 now covers Al Karama, parts of Bur Dubai, Satwa and the Business Bay area – most of which were part of Zone Five before. The new Zone 7, which now covers Lahbab, Dubailand and parts of Aweer, was not plotted in Dubai’s old public transport network.

More ‘winners’

Al Mudharreb said there are more ‘winners’ in the re-zoning plan. “For some people, there will be an increase,” said Al Mudharreb. “But a lot of people – especially those who belong to the low-income group – will benefit with a reduced tariff. Many others will see no impact at all – as in the case of a person who commutes regularly between the Mall of the Emirates and Burj Khalifa [the same Dh4.10 will be charged post-rezoning],” he said.

“Our figures show that the majority will see no fare increase,” he said.

Regular commuters from Khalid Bin Waleed (BurJuman) to Business Bay stations or Karama and Dubai International Airport, will, however, see a 78 per cent fare jump. More info

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  • Anonymous

    I used to top up my Silver NOL Card with AED 20.00 which used to last me for 10 working days! With the new re-zoning and fares my AED 20.00 will last me 5 working days!!
    This is completely unfair!

  • Mhel_alvarado

    I hope RTA will reconsider this fare as most the bus commuters travels more than 1 zone going to work. Buses travel longer so it should be cheaper & more affordable to low income earners.

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    Hi Mhel and other friend,

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  • BusTraveler

    the fare scheme of RTA is completely not fair most affected are the laborers or those have low salary who always commute everyday not even everyday, everytime perhaps. The average they consume now for the fare in a month nearly 300aed which 1/4 of their salary. People now these days taking a private car lift rather thn spending that much and waiting for the bus inside the shed without aircondition(specifically bus stop at the old RTA office itself ).try taking metro from Al Jafliya to Union Station it cost 4.10AED which actually because of the zoning that cost that much,infact its only just near. We had asked the same to one of the agent of metro and he said its a trial.We were shock as in a big “what”.We work here for money,and just spent in a trial???..the percentage of increase of fare is that very high, shocking cause eventualy 78%. Its ok if every company has increase also the transportaion allowance. Hope RTA will put consideration on this as people are not happy, its just they dont have any choice but to take it..

  • King

    How can RTA say the hike will benefit most of the people? I was shocked that a bus trip from Dubai cinema to rashid hospital on route C15 charged me 4.10 dhs which did not charge more than 2.30 Dhs.Second example is a train trip from karama to union cost me 1.80 Dhs and connecting bus service from union to etisalat just the next stop charged me 4.10 Dhs. Does RTA think this is fare enough? How is the low income group to bear this burden? RTA should really put on their thinking cap and see how best they can arrange the charges depending on the time & distance of travel.

  • Common man

    I dont buy the argument that this increasing the zones from 5 zones to 7 zones will benefit anyone but RTA. More number of zones means more passing accross the zones so more money for the RTA. And RTA should remember that the basic commutation facility such as BUS and METRO are used by common man and should not see such hikes. They are hurting their economy by doing this. People will leave this country if life becomes tougher like this for common people. See there is no alternative left for people as there is no private commutation facility. RTA official says this is a trial run and wants to see the effect. How are they going to see the effect if there is no alternative commutation facility. Let them give permissions for private sector in transport, then they can see the effect. And in long run they will see the big effect if they keep taking more intelligent decisions like this. The common man who are the support system of Dubai economy will leave this country.

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