The Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has expanded its Bus-On-Demand service to four additional locations—Al Qusais, Jumeirah Village Circle, Al Warqa’a, and Dubai Investments Park, as part of its public transport network expansion.
The expansion brings the total coverage of the service to 17 areas across Dubai, supported by a fleet of 49 buses.
The move is part of RTA’s broader strategy to enhance first- and last-mile connectivity and improve integration between residential communities and key public transport hubs.
The service recorded strong growth in 2025, with ridership increasing to 984,929 passengers compared to 417,315 in 2024, reflecting an increase of 567,614 riders and growth of around 136 percent. This performance highlights rising user adoption and increased reliance on flexible public transport solutions.
Prior to the latest expansion, the service operated in areas including Al Barsha, Al Nahda, Dubai Silicon Oasis, Dubai Academic City, Al Rigga, Port Saeed, Business Bay, Downtown Dubai, Oud Metha, Al Karama, Barsha Heights, Al Mankhool, and the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).
The Bus-On-Demand system operates through a smart booking platform via the Dubai Bus-On-Demand application, allowing passengers to select pick-up and drop-off points based on real-time availability. The service uses dynamically routed minibuses, enabling greater operational efficiency and reduced waiting times.
According to the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority, the initiative supports the emirate’s wider mobility objectives by reducing reliance on private vehicles, improving traffic flow, and strengthening integration with the Dubai Metro and public bus network.
The service is offered at a fare of $1.36 (AED 5) per trip and $1.09 (AED 4) for each additional passenger, with shared rides available to optimize capacity. Launch-phase promotional offers, including free trips for a limited period, are also being introduced to encourage adoption.
The RTA said future phases will include further geographic expansion and continued refinement of the operating model and fare structure to ensure service efficiency, accessibility, and long-term sustainability within Dubai’s smart mobility ecosystem.
