Dubai Metro is the cleanest, most punctual public transit system in the Middle East. Fully automated (driverless), air-conditioned, and integrated with buses and water taxis, the metro is the backbone of affordable commuting in Dubai. In 2026, two lines are operational with a third under construction.
The Lines
Red Line
The main line, running 52.1 km from Rashidiya in the east to UAE Exchange in the west, with 33 stations. It passes through all major commercial hubs: Deira City Centre, Union, BurJuman, World Trade Centre, Emirates Towers, Financial Centre (DIFC), Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall, Business Bay, Dubai Marina, JBR, and more.
Green Line
A 22.5 km elevated and underground line with 20 stations, looping through Deira and Bur Dubai. Key stations: Etisalat, Al Ras, Baniyas Square, Union (interchange with Red Line), BurJuman (interchange), Al Fahidi, and Al Jadaf. Serves the historic districts and Dubai Healthcare City.
Blue Line (Under Construction)
The Blue Line, announced in 2023, will run approximately 30 km with 14 stations connecting Dubai Creek Harbour, Al Jaddaf, and new development zones. Expected completion: 2029–2030.
Nol Cards
- Silver Card: AED 25 (includes AED 19 credit) — reloadable, valid on metro, bus, tram, and water bus
- Gold Card: AED 25 (includes AED 19 credit) — same as Silver but gives access to Gold Class cabins (front and rear of each train)
- Blue Card: Personalised card with monthly pass capability
- Red Ticket: Disposable single-trip ticket — slightly higher per-journey cost
Fares
Fares are zone-based (1–5 zones) and calculated automatically when you tap in and out:
- 1 zone: AED 3.00 (Silver) / AED 6.00 (Gold)
- 2 zones: AED 5.00 / AED 10.00
- 3 zones: AED 6.00 / AED 12.00
- 4+ zones: AED 7.50 / AED 15.00
- Monthly pass (unlimited): AED 350 (Silver) / AED 700 (Gold)
What you pay is decided by how many zone boundaries you cross, not by how many zones your route is labelled with — a long journey inside one zone stays at the single-zone fare, and a short hop over a boundary does not.
Does the Monthly Pass Actually Pay Off?
Usually not on commuting alone, which is the opposite of what most guides tell you. Work it through with the fares above: a typical month has around 22 working days, so a return commute costs AED 132 at one zone, AED 220 at two, AED 264 at three and AED 330 at the maximum 4+ zone fare. Every one of those is below the AED 350 Silver pass.
The pass earns its money when the metro is your general transport rather than just your commute — weekend trips, errands, evenings out. At the 4+ zone fare the crossover is roughly 24 days of return travel a month, so a five-day commuter who also uses it at weekends is ahead, and one who only travels to work and back is not. Work out your own zone count before buying: the pass is a good deal for a particular pattern of use, not a default.
The first cabin is women and children only
Operating Hours
Station opening hours per RTA, for both lines:
- Monday–Thursday: 5:00am – midnight
- Friday: 5:00am – 1:00am
- Saturday: 5:00am – midnight
- Sunday: 8:00am – midnight
Sunday is the late start, not Friday. This trips up anyone working from older guidance: when the UAE moved to a Monday–Friday working week and a Saturday–Sunday weekend on 1 January 2022, the late opening moved with it. Pre-2022 timetables showing a 10:00am Friday start are out of date. Hours also shift during Ramadan — check the RTA app for the current schedule.
Where the Metro Does Not Go
The network is excellent along its corridors and absent everywhere else, and that gap decides where a car-free life is realistic. The Red Line covers Deira, Bur Dubai, Business Bay, Downtown, Sheikh Zayed Road, Mall of the Emirates, Marina, JLT and the Media/Internet City cluster. It does not reach the villa communities — Arabian Ranches, The Springs, Mirdif, Dubai Hills — where a car is effectively mandatory.
Two popular areas sit in between. JBR and JVChave no direct station of their own: JBR is served by the tram, JVC by feeder buses only. A listing that advertises itself as "near the metro" is worth checking on a map, and worth checking in July — a ten-minute walk to a station in February is a different proposition in summer. Our metro-connected areas answer lists the coverage station by station.
Tips for Using the Metro
- Always tap in and tap out — you will be charged a maximum zone fare if you forget to tap out
- Keep your nol card topped up above AED 7.50 minimum balance
- Download the RTA Dubai app for real-time arrival times and journey planning
- Rush hours (7:30–9:30am and 5:30–8:00pm) are crowded — travel earlier or later if possible
- Taxis from major stations are plentiful; alternatively, the RTA Feeder Bus connects the metro to residential areas