Dubai Metro banks on low fares for success

Passengers on the Dubai Metro will be able to glide from one end of the city to the other for as little as Dh5.80 (US$1.60), officials said yesterday.

That would make the public transit system one of the most affordable to ride in the world, according to the Roads and Transport Authority, comparable to those of Cairo and Singapore, and several times cheaper than Hong Kong, Tokyo and New York City.

“The price will make it attractive to use buses and the Metro, and it is also a very luxurious and comfortable way to travel,” said Mattar Mohammed al Tayer, the authority’s executive director and chairman of the board.