Pinoys in UAE top users of world’s longest, driverless train network

Filipinos in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are the top users of the Dubai Metro, the world’s longest and driverless train network, a study of the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) said.

A report on Gulf News said the Filipinos had the “highest affinity” for Dubai Metro, followed by Indians and Europeans.

“We are thrilled about the number of passengers using Metro. There were doubts whether Metro will be conceived by residents as a mode of transport, but now those concerns have all vanished,” the RTA’s rail agency CEO Adnan Al Hammadi said.

Al Hammadi said the Dubai Metro started off with 50,000 passengers daily but the number has reached 320,000, and even 360,000 passengers on weekends.

The study found that Emiratis make up 12 percent of all the commuters using the Metro.

Women and children, on the other hand, account for 27 percent of commuters, the study said.

“Most commuters are aged between 19 to 40, which confirmed that youngsters view it as a modern way of travelling,” he said.

Of the commuters, 70 percent earn below Dh10,000 per month, while the remaining 30 percent earn a higher income.

Source: GMA News