The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in Dubai has announced a major upgrade to its public transport infrastructure: six new dedicated bus and taxi lanes will be introduced across the city. Spanning 13 kilometres in total, the expansion is aimed at reducing traffic congestion and making public transport more efficient.
These new lanes will appear on some of Dubai’s busiest roads:
- Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah Street
- Omar bin Al Khattab Street
- 2nd of December Street
- Al Nahda Street
- Al Satwa Street
- Naif Street
Once completed, the total length of dedicated lanes for buses and taxis in Dubai will reach 20 km.
According to the RTA, the initiative is expected to cut travel times by 41% and improve bus arrival punctuality by 42%. Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA, explained that these changes are part of a broader strategy to encourage public transport use and ease overall congestion on Dubai’s roads.
To help prevent private vehicle misuse, the lanes will be marked with a distinctive red colour. Drivers who violate the rule and enter these lanes without authorisation can face fines of AED 600.
This comes as the RTA shared new statistics highlighting the scale of Dubai’s public bus network. The city now covers nearly 90% of its urban area through a fleet of 1,390 buses. Each day, these buses complete 11,000 trips, transporting more than 500,000 riders and covering approximately 333,000 kilometres.
With this latest move, the RTA continues to support Dubai’s long-term transport vision — one that prioritises accessibility, reliability, and sustainable urban mobility.
