Dubai: The average cost of owning a new car in the UAE is about Dh25,000 a year whereas maximum cost of a monthly public transport pass for travel on the Metro, buses and water transport will be Dh270 once the Dubai Metro starts operations.

This amounts to Dh3,240 a year if a passenger uses the Dh270 monthly travel pass for unlimited commuting.

According to a study conducted by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), the cost of owning a car includes petrol, servicing, maintenance and its depreciation value. Breaking down the cost, a new car costs its owner an average of Dh68 per day, Dh476 per week and Dh2,040 per month.

Commuters can make unlimited use of all modes of public transport all over the city including the Metro, public buses and the water bus by purchasing a Dh270 Nol pass valid for 30 days. This comes down to a maximum of Dh9 per day.

The daily pass will cost Dh14 for unlimited trips on the Metro and the public buses all over the city.

Using the Metro and other integrated modes of transport will be a cheaper option for commuters.

Fares for the Metro and public buses will range from a minimum of Dh1.8 to a maximum of Dh6.5 for a single journey. The minimum fare for the Metro or the bus for a short trip for up to three kilometres will be Dh1.8 if a passenger is using a prepaid card while it will cost Dh2 in case of using a standard single journey paper ticket.

The maximum fare for a single journey will be Dh6.5 in case of using a paper ticket and Dh5.8 in case of using the card. The fares will be valid for trains, public buses and the water buses to complete a single journey.

This means a passenger using the Metro can continue his trip on buses without paying any additional fare.

The RTA has also given various fare options to passengers including daily and monthly passes.

Dubai loses around Dh4.5 billion due to traffic congestion on the road, according to the RTA. Public transport will help reduce this financial loss and save commuters for being stuck in traffic jams causing loss of time and money.

There are more than one million registered vehicles in Dubai while more than 1.3 million vehicles use Dubai's road network every day.

Perspective of a taxi-user

I am very excited about Dubai Metro. I do not have a car having passed off the ownership and consequent upkeep of a vehicle as being too expensive, but after five years in Dubai I have finally calculated that I spend almost Dh8,000 a year on cabs, minimum.

With Metro stops strategically placed outside my building and 500 metres from Gulf News I am getting ready to save a lot of money. Fares will cost a minimum of Dh1.80 to around Dh4 which means I'll probably do some joyriding in between getting to assignments and the office.