Dubai is still on track to becoming one of the most connected and smartest cities of the world. In a world first, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) of Dubai in partnership with telecom provider e& (previously known as Etisalat) has now installed free Wi-Fi at all 43 bus and marine transport stations. An announcement on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, will be a milestone in the grand project of the city of transforming into a digital entity.
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Stay Connected Anywhere, Anytime
The commuters in Dubai can now have the ease of being on internet as they wait at the marine transport terminals or the public bus stops. Free Wi-Fi is now a touch of a button as you can check your emails, stream your music, get back to your work or plan your route through Google maps.
The Wi-Fi service covers:
- 21 public bus stations
- 22 marine transport stations
This adds to the 43 connected locations giving it wide range and convenience of being dropped off or picked up daily by commuters in the emirate.
Why Wi-Fi Matters for Commuters
The population of Dubai is mobile and technology friendly. Through free Wi-Fi at transport stations, RTA will seek to achieve the following:
- Enhance commuter convenience
Waiting passengers can now access the Internet to surf, read their mails, or update their social media feed. - Support digital inclusivity
High-quality internet stops being a luxury, but rather a necessity. This program guarantees all people, irrespective of their device and data rate, can be in touch. - Improvement in productivity
Now students, freelancers, and even professionals can make use of these wait time which is now productive due to constant internet connectivity.
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A Key Step in Dubai’s Smart City Vision
The project falls within the wider scope of Smart City objectives of Dubai, which seeks to simplify and streamline the life of people living or visiting it. According to the RTA, the rollout is among its mandate to intensify digital transformation and stepping up passenger delight via smarter infrastructure and services.
Commenting on this undertaking, RTA announced in its official statement that this is part of the continued drive to speed up digital transformation in all our services.
In March 2025 earlier, RTA presented its 360 Services Policy, which was aimed at transferring the system of public services to digital and self-service. This new Wi-Fi rollout supports the strategy because it can guarantee passengers access to the digital connectivity they require outside their stationary locations.
More Than Just Internet Access
Access to free Wi-Fi is not just about being connected. This is a conscious attempt to make the process of commuting to workplaces more pleasant, turn otherwise wasted travel time into something more productive, and to promote the overall happiness and digital inclusion of the city of Dubai.
RTA highlighted that the project is serving the variable commuter demands, offering a more convenient and refined ecosystem of transportations. As a student, remote employee, traveller or long term resident, connecting has become as easy as ever on the public transportation system in Dubai.
Continuous Improvement Ahead
The RTA has also guaranteed that the free Wi-Fi system will be regularly tracked and improved as the time goes by. The future improvements will involve provision of high quality, secure and reliable internet connectivity to facilitate a seamless digital experience to every user.
Final Thoughts
RTA does not only highlight the Smart Urban Innovation leadership of Dubai but also its determination to promote commuter satisfactions via technology. With Dubai becoming a hyper-connected city, the efforts such as these leave no doubts that the future of mobility lies in being digital, seamless, and inclusive. And the next time you are waiting to board a public transportation, you can be assured of the fact that all you have to do is to log in to the Wi-Fi, because you can be connected to the world thanks to RTA and e&.