DUBAI // The Metro has announced plans to reserve more seating for women.
As it stands, the carriage next to the Gold Class car on each train is set aside for exclusive use by women and children.
From next month, half of the Silver Class carriages located immediately after the ladies' carriages will also be reserved.
The reservation will only be in effect during the peak hours of 7am to 9am and 5pm to 8pm, Sunday to Thursday.
Stickers and signs have already been posted on most trains showing that the area has been reserved for women and children.
"The number of women and child Metro passengers has noticeably increased," said Ramadan Abdulla, director of rail operations at the Roads and Transport Authority.
"In reply to such a rise, we decided to extend the current capacity of their metro cabin."
Mr Abdulla did not provide figures for how many women used the Metro, but the authority said it served 400,000 daily commuters.
"We are committed to making Metro trips smoother and more comfortable for women and children, especially because they need to have more care taken due to their privacy needs," he said.
He appealed to all male commuters to respect the new allocations and ensure that women could enjoy a smooth Metro experience with privacy and peace of mind.
