Over nine in ten back investing in public transport over driving in Dubai

Half also plan to use train travel more in future

• New global study, commissioned by Hitachi Rail, finds nine in ten (93%) back investing in public transport over driving in Dubai
• Despite high rates of driving in the city, public transport is seen as more convenient than driving by three quarters of population
• Half (50%) also expect their train travel to grow in next five years.

Over nine in ten (93%) back investing in public transport in Dubai, according to a new international survey commissioned by Hitachi Rail.

The research, carried out by SavantaComres, collected data from 12,000 people in 12 different cities around the world, including Berlin, Copenhagen, Dubai, London, Milan, Paris, San Francisco, Singapore, Sydney, Toronto, Warsaw and, Washington D.C. The results from 1,000 people in Dubai provides a statistically accurate picture of how its citizens view their public transport compared to other major cities around the world.

Despite a high proportion (86%) of Dubai respondents noting that they sometimes or often drive, public transport is used for 58% of commutes. Respondents were also three times more likely to say public transport is convenient versus driving in the city.

Dubai respondents listed faster services (94%), ease of access (95%) and safety (95%) as the three most important factors in determining how they travel. By contrast, overcrowding was identified as the single most significant barrier (52%) to traveling by public transport.

Of interest to city planners, the research also highlights that there is a substantial appetite for more public transport in Dubai. Just under nine in ten (88%) would use it more if it offered a shorter journey time, while 86% would also use it more if they could avoid crowded services. Seven in ten would even use a better connected public transport system more if its cost increased. Looking forward, half of people (50%) do expect to travel more by train in the next five years – the highest of anywhere surveyed.

Dubai citizens show clear support for investing in public transport, with more than nine in ten (93%) backing such investment over funding driving infrastructure – also the highest of anywhere surveyed. When asked how to fund such investment, four in five (79%) backed the idea of using road user charges to aid better public transport.

Commenting on the research, a Hitachi Rail spokesperson said: “Despite a high prevalence of driving, people in Dubai are clear that public transport is the most convenient way to travel and almost universally (93%) back greater investment in their public transport infrastructure. Half of repsondents also believe they will travel more using green transport options such as train travel in the next five years. Our challenge now as an industry is to deliver the additional green and sustainable infrastructure to match this demand.”

An in-depth overview and analysis of the data can be found here.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

The fieldwork for the survey was conducted by Savanta ComRes in December 2023

• Sample of approx. 1000 people were surveyed in each of the following: London, Berlin, Milan, Dubai, Warsaw, Washington, San Francisco, Toronto, Paris, Singapore, Sydney, Copenhagen.
• ‘Long-distance travel’ was defined as any journey of at least 2.5 hours
• Hitachi Rail’s full report can be downloaded here: Better Connected | Hitachi Rail