The Dubai Metro has deployed three new trains to cater for a surge in traffic during the Eid al-Fitr festival.

Passenger numbers on the Dubai Metro soared from 64,000 on 18 September, to 97,000 in a single day on 20 September, the first day of the festival.

To meet demand, Dubai’s Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) increased the number of trains on the Red Line service from 11 to 14.

The AED28bn ($7.6bn) metro, which opened on 10 September, has proved popular with residents.

However, the RTA admits that the popularity of the metro does not give a true indication of how many Dubai residents are actually using the train to commute. The weeks after Eid will give a clearer indication of passenger demand.