Dubai Metro Guide

The two lines that matter

The Red Line is the tourist artery: it runs from Centrepoint (Rashadeya) past the airport terminals, through Deira and Bur Dubai, down Sheikh Zayed Road past the Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates and Marina, ending at Expo 2020 and UAE Exchange (Jebel Ali). If your hotel is near any Red Line station, most of Dubai is 15–40 minutes away without traffic. The Green Line loops through Deira, Bur Dubai, Oud Metha and Festival City — essential for the souks, the Creek and the old town, and it interchanges with the Red Line at Union and BurJuman.

Trains run every 3–7 minutes at peak times and are driverless, air-conditioned and almost absurdly clean. Approximate operating hours are 5am to midnight Monday to Saturday, with Friday and Sunday service running to around 1am — but exact timings shift on holidays and during Ramadan, so check the RTA app on the day rather than memorising this paragraph.

Nol cards and fares

Everyone rides on a Nol card, bought at any station machine or counter. The Silver card (AED 25 with AED 19 credit) is the default for visitors staying more than a day or two; the Red ticket (AED 2 plus per-trip credit) suits single journeys; the Gold card doubles fares for access to the comfier Gold Class cabin at the front of the train. Fares are zone-based and genuinely cheap: most tourist journeys cost AED 3–7.50, capped by a daily maximum, and the same card works on buses, trams, the Palm Monorail top-up and even some taxis and parking meters.

Tap in at the gates when entering and tap out when leaving — forgetting to tap out charges the maximum fare. Keep a small positive balance; gates refuse entry below the minimum, and topping up takes two minutes at any machine with cash or card.

Rules with real fines

• No eating or drinking anywhere in stations or trains — even water or chewing gum can draw a fine.
• One carriage in the middle is reserved for women and children; men riding it risk a fine.
• Gold card holders only in the Gold cabin; Silver holders there get fined.
• Sleeping in unauthorised areas, feet on seats, and fare evasion all carry fines enforced by plainclothes inspectors.
• Priority seats exist and are socially enforced — offer them without being asked.

Tourist tactics

Base yourself near a Red Line station and the city compresses dramatically: Downtown, the Marina and the airport become one straight line. Ride Gold Class at least once at off-peak hours — the front-window view down Sheikh Zayed Road at night is one of the cheapest spectacles in Dubai. For the old town, ride to Al Fahidi or Al Ghubaiba and walk; the metro stations sit a short stroll from the Creek, the souks and the Al Fahidi historic quarter. And when the metro does not reach somewhere (Palm Jumeirah, parts of JBR), pair it with the Dubai Tram from Sobha Realty or a short taxi — multimodal journeys on one Nol card are the norm, not the exception.

❓ Common questions