Last updated 21 October 2026. This guide contains affiliate links: if you book through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
The short answer from this Dubai Metro guide: the metro is the cheapest and simplest way to cover long distances in Dubai. Two lines, the Red and the Green, link Dubai International Airport (Terminals 1 and 3), Deira, Bur Dubai, Downtown, Business Bay, Mall of the Emirates and Dubai Marina, and a trip costs AED 3 to AED 7.50 on a standard nol card.
It has limits. There is no metro on Palm Jumeirah or along the Jumeirah coast around the Burj Al Arab, several stations have changed their names in the last few years, and the walk from the station to your door can be long and hot in summer. This guide covers the lines, the new station names, timings, tickets and fares, the rules, and which station to use for each main sight. If you are still choosing a base, our guide to where to stay in Dubai compares the areas.
Dubai Metro guide at a glance
These are the facts most visitors need, checked with the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) on 21 October 2026.
| What | Details |
|---|---|
| Lines | Red Line and Green Line. The Blue Line is under construction and due in 2029 |
| Change lines at | Union or BurJuman |
| Hours | Monday to Thursday and Saturday 5am to midnight; Friday 5am to 1am; Sunday 8am to midnight |
| Fares (Silver nol card) | AED 3 (1 zone), AED 5 (2 zones), AED 7.50 (more than 2 zones) |
| Tickets | nol card or paper Red ticket, from station machines and ticket offices. No cash or bank cards at the gates |
| Airport | DXB Terminals 1 and 3 on the Red Line. No station at Terminal 2 |
| Luggage | Two suitcases per person: one large, one small |
| Children | Aged five and under travel free |
Which lines does the Dubai Metro have?
Two lines run today: the Red Line, which follows Sheikh Zayed Road through most of the places visitors go, and the Green Line, which serves old Dubai on both sides of the creek. They meet at Union and BurJuman stations.
Dubai Metro map
RTA, which runs the metro, publishes an official map of every Red Line, Green Line and tram station. It opens as a PDF that you can save to your phone and use offline. If a station name on the map differs from the signs, it has probably been renamed recently: check our table of old and new station names below.
Red Line
The Red Line starts at Centrepoint in Al Rashidiya and runs past Airport Terminals 3 and 1, through Deira and Bur Dubai, then down Sheikh Zayed Road past the World Trade Centre, DIFC, Downtown, Business Bay, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai Internet City and Dubai Marina. After National Paints station (the old Jebel Ali station), the line splits: one branch carries on to Ibn Battuta and Life Pharmacy, the other runs to Expo City Dubai.
Route 2020 branch to Expo City
The branch to Expo City, known as Route 2020, has six stations: The Gardens, Discovery Gardens, Al Furjan, Jumeirah Golf Estates, Dubai Investment Park and Expo 2020, the stop for Expo City Dubai. Most Red Line trains from Centrepoint run to either Expo 2020 or Life Pharmacy, so check the destination on the platform screen before you board.
Green Line
The Green Line runs for 20 stations from e& (formerly Etisalat) in Al Qusais to Creek in Al Jaddaf. The useful stretch for visitors is in the middle: Union, Baniyas Square, Gold Souq and Al Ras in Deira, then Al Ghubaiba, Sharaf DG and BurJuman in Bur Dubai.
Blue Line: under construction, opening 2029
RTA has set 9 September 2029 as the opening date for the Blue Line. It will be 30 km long with 14 stations, linking Creek on the Green Line and Centrepoint on the Red Line via Dubai Festival City, Dubai Creek Harbour, Ras Al Khor, International City, Mirdif, Al Warqa, Dubai Silicon Oasis and Academic City. Tunnelling began in May 2026, and in November 2025 RTA said it expected about 30% of the work to be done by the end of 2026, so it won’t change a trip in 2026 or 2027.
New Dubai Metro station names: old and new
Many stations have been renamed under naming-rights deals, so older maps, hotel websites and travel blogs often use names you won’t see on the signs. These are the renamings a visitor is most likely to come across.
| Current name | Old name you may see | Line | Renamed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garmin | ONPASSIVE, originally Al Safa | Red | September 2026 (signs change until the end of November) |
| National Paints | Jebel Ali (Jabal Ali), originally Nakheel Harbour & Tower | Red | 2025 |
| Life Pharmacy | UAE Exchange | Red | 2025 |
| Al Garhoud | GGICO | Red | 2025 |
| Al Fardan Exchange | Al Khail, originally Nakheel | Red | 2025 |
| InsuranceMarket.ae | Mashreq, and Sharaf DG before that | Red | 2024 |
| Sobha Realty | Dubai Marina | Red | 2021 |
| Max | Al Jafiliya | Red | 2021 |
| Centrepoint | Al Rashidiya | Red | 2021 |
| Equiti | Umm Al Sheif | Red | 2020 |
| DMCC | Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT) | Red | 2018 |
| ADCB | Al Karama | Red | 2014 |
| Sharaf DG | Al Fahidi | Green | 2020 |
| Gold Souq | Palm Deira | Green | 2020 |
| e& | Etisalat | Green | 2023 |
Two names cause most of the confusion. Sharaf DG is now the Green Line station for Al Fahidi in Bur Dubai, not the Red Line station in Al Barsha that used the name until 2020. And Jebel Ali on an older map means today’s National Paints, where the Expo City branch splits off.
Dubai Metro timings
Stations open at 5am every day except Sunday, when they open at 8am, and close at midnight, except on Friday nights, when they stay open until 1am.
| Day | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Monday to Thursday | 5am | Midnight |
| Friday | 5am | 1am (Saturday) |
| Saturday | 5am | Midnight |
| Sunday | 8am | Midnight |
Trains run every few minutes, more often at peak times. These are station opening hours: the last trains towards the far ends of the line leave central stations earlier, so check the timetable on rta.ae or in RTA’s S’hail app if you will be out late. RTA often extends hours for New Year’s Eve, Eid and big events, and changes them during Ramadan, and announces the special timings in advance.
Timings as published by RTA on 21 October 2026.
Nol cards and tickets: which one should you buy?
You need a nol card or a paper Red ticket to ride, because the gates don’t take cash or bank cards. For most visitors staying more than a day or two, a Silver nol card is the right choice.
| Card | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Red ticket | AED 2 plus your fares. Paper ticket, reusable for up to 10 trips within 90 days | A single journey or a day pass. It works for one mode of transport at a time |
| Silver | AED 25, including AED 19 of credit. Valid five years | Most visitors |
| Gold | AED 25, including AED 19 of credit | Travelling in Gold Class, which costs double |
| Personal (Blue) | AED 70, including AED 20 of credit. Registered in your name | Residents. Needed for concession fares, and the balance can be recovered if the card is lost |
| nol Travel | AED 100, including AED 19 of credit | Visitors who want the offers and discounts that come with it |
Where to buy: ticket vending machines and ticket offices in metro stations, including the stations at Airport Terminals 1 and 3, RTA’s authorised sales agents, and the nol Pay app, which offers a virtual nol card. The same card works on the tram, buses and water buses.
Where to top up: station machines and ticket offices, the nol Pay app, rta.ae, and the RTA Dubai and S’hail apps. A top-up made online can take between 45 minutes and four hours to appear, and you activate it by tapping the card at a metro gate.
Paying by phone: on compatible Samsung and Huawei phones, you can move a Silver or Gold card into the nol Pay app (or Huawei Wallet) and tap your phone at the gates. Once you do, the plastic card stops working, so check in the app first that your phone is supported. RTA is upgrading the nol system, and paying with bank cards and digital wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay is planned for the first quarter of 2027 (reported in July 2026).
Tap in and tap out: touch your card on the gate when you enter and again when you leave. The fare is worked out from the zones you passed through and taken from your balance at the end of the journey, so keep at least AED 7.50, the highest Silver fare, on the card before you set off.
Dubai Metro fares in 2026
Fares depend on how many of Dubai’s seven fare zones your journey crosses, not on how many stops you travel. On a Silver card a trip costs AED 3, AED 5 or AED 7.50, and Gold Class costs double.
| Zones crossed | Silver or Personal card | Gold card | Red ticket | Red ticket, Gold Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Within 1 zone | AED 3 | AED 6 | AED 4 | AED 8 |
| 2 adjacent zones | AED 5 | AED 10 | AED 6 | AED 12 |
| More than 2 zones | AED 7.50 | AED 15 | AED 8.50 | AED 17 |
Children aged five and under travel free on every card. A single journey can include changes between the metro, tram and buses: RTA allows up to three transfers within 180 minutes, and you have 30 minutes to switch from one mode of transport to another.
Day pass: a one-day pass on a Red ticket costs AED 20, or AED 40 for Gold Class, according to 2026 fare guides (RTA’s own fares page doesn’t list it, so check the price at the machine). Compared with Silver card fares, it only pays off if you make three or more long journeys in a day.
Seven-day pass: Silver and Gold cards, including unregistered ones, can carry a 7-day pass. On Silver it costs AED 50 for one zone, AED 80 for two zones or AED 110 for all zones, and double on Gold. Two long trips a day at AED 7.50 add up to AED 105 a week, so the all-zones pass is only worth it if you ride more than that.
Fares as listed on rta.ae on 21 October 2026.
Gold Class and the women and children cabin
Every metro train has a Gold Class cabin and a section reserved for women and children, and the rest of the train is open to everyone.
Gold Class is a separate cabin with wide leather seats and, as RTA describes it, panoramic views. You need a Gold nol card or a Gold Class Red ticket, and you pay double the standard fare. Look for the Gold Class signs on the platform to see where it stops.
The women and children section is marked with pink signs and has room for prams. Women and children can use it with any nol card, and women are free to travel in the regular cabins too. Men who stand or sit in an area reserved for other passengers can be fined. The Dubai Tram has the same Gold Class and women and children cabins.
Rules and fines on the Dubai Metro
The rules are strict and RTA’s inspectors enforce them. The ones visitors are most likely to break by accident are eating or drinking on board, using the wrong cabin and carrying alcohol.
| Offence | Fine |
|---|---|
| Eating or drinking where it isn’t allowed, including on trains | AED 100 |
| Using an area reserved for other passengers, such as the women and children section | AED 100 |
| Putting your feet on the seats | AED 100 |
| Travelling without paying the fare, or using someone else’s card | AED 200 |
| Smoking, littering or spitting | AED 200 |
| Sleeping in stations or other areas where it’s not allowed | AED 300 |
| Carrying alcoholic drinks | AED 500 |
| Damaging seats or equipment, or misusing emergency devices | AED 2,000 |
RTA doesn’t list a separate fine for riding in Gold Class on a standard fare, but doing so would fall under the fare and reserved-area rules above, so tap a Gold card or buy a Gold Class ticket first. RTA’s list makes no exception for sealed bottles, so if you are carrying duty-free alcohol from the airport, a taxi is the simpler choice.
Children under 8 can’t use public transport without an adult, and children aged 8 to 11 need a permit from their parents. Animals aren’t allowed, except guide dogs.
Fines as listed by RTA on 21 October 2026.
Taking the metro from Dubai airport
The Red Line stops at DXB Terminal 1 and Terminal 3, and both stations have ticket offices and vending machines for nol cards. There is no metro station at Terminal 2.
Each passenger can bring two suitcases: one large bag up to 81 × 58 × 30 cm and one small bag up to 55 × 38 × 20 cm, stored in the luggage area of the cabin. Dubai Airports describes the allowance as two pieces in total, including hand luggage. With more than that, or with big cases at rush hour, a taxi is easier, or you can book an airport to city transfer in advance (rated 4.4 by more than 130 guests).
Al Maktoum International (DWC) has no metro station. Dubai Airports suggests RTA buses or taxis from Ibn Battuta or Expo 2020 stations. For both airports in more detail, see our guide to Dubai airport services and transfers.
Is the Dubai Metro accessible?
Yes. According to RTA, lifts serve every station level, all trains have wheelchair spaces, and there are tactile guidance paths, audible and visual alerts at the platform doors, and information screens in trains and stations.
People of determination travel free and students and senior citizens get 50% off, but these concessions need a Personal (Blue) card and documents such as an Emirates ID, so in practice they mostly suit residents. The longest part of many journeys is the walk from the station to your building, so check that route before you rely on it.
Dubai Tram and Palm Monorail connections
The Dubai Tram is how you get from the metro to JBR and around Dubai Marina. From the tram’s Palm Jumeirah stop, a footbridge leads to Palm Gateway, the first station of the Palm Monorail.
Dubai Tram: the tram runs along Al Sufouh Road and Jumeirah Beach Road, through Dubai Marina and JBR. Covered footbridges link it to Sobha Realty and DMCC metro stations. It runs from 6am to 1am Monday to Saturday and from 9am to 1am on Sunday, and takes the same nol cards and zone fares. Cross the tracks only at marked crossings: RTA’s fine for crossing elsewhere is AED 1,000.
Palm Jumeirah Monorail: the monorail runs from Palm Gateway, which connects to the Palm Jumeirah tram stop (you leave one station and walk to the other), to Atlantis Aquaventure, stopping at Al Ittihad Park and Palm Jumeirah Mall. It reopened on 10 July 2026 after a maintenance closure, and its timetable shows trains every 15 minutes from 9am to about 10pm. It is run separately from the metro, so check tickets and times on its website, and see our Palm Jumeirah guide for other options.
Which metro station for the main sights and areas?
The table gives the current station name for each place most visitors head to. Walking distances in Dubai can be longer than they look on a map, so check the route on your phone, especially between May and September.
| Going to | Station (line) | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall | Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall (Red) | A long enclosed walkway links the station to the mall. The whole walk to the Burj Khalifa entrance is more than 1.5 km |
| Mall of the Emirates and Ski Dubai | Mall of the Emirates (Red) | An enclosed overhead walkway leads straight into the mall |
| Dubai Marina | Sobha Realty (formerly Dubai Marina) or DMCC (formerly JLT), Red | Both link to the tram by covered footbridges. Which is closer depends on your end of the Marina |
| JBR and The Walk | Sobha Realty or DMCC, then the Dubai Tram | The tram runs along Jumeirah Beach Road and has stops for JBR |
| Al Fahidi Historical District and Bur Dubai | Sharaf DG (formerly Al Fahidi), Green | At the edge of the historic core. Al Ghubaiba (Green) is the other option, at the Al Shindagha end |
| Gold Souk and the Deira souks | Gold Souq (formerly Palm Deira) or Al Ras, Green | Both are in old Deira, close to the souk streets |
| Dubai Frame | Max (formerly Al Jafiliya), Red | Dubai Frame’s website names it, under its old name, as the station for Zabeel Park. The Frame is at Gate 4 |
| Expo City Dubai | Expo 2020 (Red, Route 2020 branch) | Board a train showing Expo 2020: Life Pharmacy trains take the other branch |
| DXB Terminal 1 | Airport Terminal 1 (Red) | Ticket offices and machines at the station |
| DXB Terminal 3 (Emirates) | Airport Terminal 3 (Red) | The next stop towards Centrepoint from Terminal 1 |
| Dubai World Trade Centre | World Trade Centre (Red) | On Sheikh Zayed Road, by the exhibition centre |
| DIFC | Financial Centre (Red) | Emirates Towers station is one stop away |
| Business Bay | Business Bay (Red) | The station is on Sheikh Zayed Road at the edge of the district, so check the walk to your hotel |
Tips for using the Dubai Metro
A few habits make the metro much easier, especially on your first day.
- Avoid rush hour with luggage. Trains are busiest on weekday mornings and early evenings, when commuters fill the cabins.
- Sunday starts late. The first trains run at about 8am on Sundays, so book a taxi for an early Sunday flight.
- Friday runs late. Stations stay open until 1am on Friday nights, handy after dinner in the Marina or Downtown.
- Check the destination on the Red Line. After National Paints, trains go either to Expo 2020 or to Life Pharmacy.
- Plan the walk, not the ride, in summer. Trains and stations are air-conditioned, but the walk at either end can be tough between May and September. Use the enclosed walkways at Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates, and take a short taxi for the last stretch when it’s hot. Our Dubai weather guide explains what to expect each month.
- Use S’hail or RTA’s journey planner for routes, timings and fares, and look out for special timings on public holidays.
Where to stay near the Dubai Metro
If you plan to use the metro every day, choose a hotel within an easy walk of a station. Our where to stay in Dubai guide compares all the areas, and these have the best metro access:
- Downtown Dubai: Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall and Financial Centre stations on the Red Line.
- Business Bay: Business Bay station, one stop from Downtown.
- Deira: Union, where the two lines meet, plus City Centre Deira and Al Rigga on the Red Line to the airport.
- Bur Dubai: BurJuman interchange, plus Sharaf DG and Al Ghubaiba on the Green Line.
- Al Barsha: Mall of the Emirates and InsuranceMarket.ae stations.
- Trade Centre and DIFC: World Trade Centre, Emirates Towers and Financial Centre stations.
- Dubai Marina: Sobha Realty and DMCC stations, plus the tram to JBR.
Dubai Metro: frequently asked questions
What are the Dubai Metro timings?
Stations open from 5am to midnight Monday to Thursday and on Saturday, from 5am to 1am on Friday, and from 8am to midnight on Sunday (RTA, October 2026). The last trains towards the ends of the line leave earlier, and hours change on public holidays and during Ramadan.
How much is the Dubai Metro fare?
On a Silver nol card, a trip costs AED 3 within one zone, AED 5 across two zones and AED 7.50 for more than two zones. Gold Class costs double, and a paper Red ticket costs AED 4, AED 6 or AED 8.50 plus AED 2 for the ticket. A Silver card costs AED 25, including AED 19 of credit.
Can I take the metro from Dubai airport?
Yes, from Terminals 1 and 3 at DXB on the Red Line, but not from Terminal 2. You can bring two suitcases, one large and one small. See our guide to Dubai airport services for transfers and taxis.
Can I pay for the Dubai Metro with a bank card or my phone?
Not at the gates yet: you need a nol card or a Red ticket. Compatible Samsung and Huawei phones can carry a digital nol card through the nol Pay app, and RTA is aiming to accept bank cards and digital wallets by early 2027.
Does the Dubai Metro go to JBR or Palm Jumeirah?
For JBR, take the Red Line to Sobha Realty or DMCC and change to the Dubai Tram. There is no metro on Palm Jumeirah: take the tram to the Palm Jumeirah stop and walk across to the Palm Monorail, or take a taxi.
When will the Dubai Metro Blue Line open?
RTA has set 9 September 2029 as the opening date. The 30 km line will have 14 stations and link Creek on the Green Line and Centrepoint on the Red Line via Dubai Creek Harbour, International City, Dubai Silicon Oasis and Mirdif.
Sources
- RTA: Public transport timetable
- RTA: Metro and tram timings (PDF)
- RTA: Dubai Metro and tram network map (PDF, updated 28 September 2026)
- RTA: About Dubai Metro (cabins, luggage, accessibility, fines, Blue Line)
- RTA: About Dubai Tram
- RTA: nol fares
- RTA: Choose the right nol card
- RTA: How to buy and top up a nol card
- RTA: Naming rights of Jebel Ali station granted to National Paints, 26 June 2025
- Dubai Airports: Metro
- Dubai Frame: Plan your visit
- Palm Monorail: train times
- Khaleej Times: Dubai Metro station names, old and new (updated 8 September 2026)
- Gulf News: Onpassive Metro Station renamed Garmin, 7 September 2026
- Gulf News: Dubai Metro station renaming guide (updated July 2025)
- Khaleej Times: Al Khail station renamed Al Fardan Exchange, 18 March 2025
- The National: First phase of tunnelling complete on the Blue Line, 9 July 2026
- Dubai Eye 103.8: Blue Line set for 30% completion by end of 2026, 10 November 2025
- Gulf News: Using the metro at DXB, timings and baggage (updated August 2025)
- Gulf News: Your Dubai nol card goes digital (updated June 2024)
- Pitstop Arabia: nol card upgrade progress, 5 July 2026
- Property Finder: Dubai Metro fare calculator (March 2026)
- Dubizzle: Dubai Metro guide (updated September 2026)
- Wikipedia: Red Line (Dubai Metro)
- Wikipedia: Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall station
- Wikipedia: Mall of the Emirates station
- Wikipedia: Palm Jumeirah Monorail
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