What are the Dubai Metro operating hours?

Sunday to Wednesday: 5:00am to midnight. Thursday: 5:00am to 1:00am Friday. Friday: 10:00am to 1:00am Saturday. Saturday: 5:00am to midnight. During Ramadan, hours are typically extended to 1:00am or later — check the RTA app for current schedules. Public holidays may have extended hours.

How many metro lines are there in Dubai?

Two main lines: the Red Line (52 stations, from Rashidiya through central Dubai to Jebel Ali/Expo) and the Green Line (20 stations, from Etisalat through Al Qusais and connecting to BurJuman and Oud Metha). The Route 2020 / Expo Line is an extension of the Red Line running from DMCC/JLT through Jumeirah Golf Estates, Discovery Gardens, Al Khail, and The Gardens to Expo. Union and BurJuman are the only interchange stations between the Red and Green lines.

What is a Nol card and do I need one?

A Nol card is RTA's contactless smart card for all public transport in Dubai — metro, buses, trams, water taxis, and the Palm Monorail. The Silver Nol card (AED 25 including AED 19 balance) is the standard option for regular users. Occasional travellers can use Red Tickets (paper single-use, AED 6–10). The Gold Nol card designates access to Gold Class train cars (front 2 carriages). Nol cards can be used on all RTA transport — not just metro.

How much does it cost to ride the metro?

Silver Nol: AED 3.00 (Zone 1), AED 5.00 (Zone 2), AED 7.50 (Zone 3). Daily cap AED 14.00 — after this, all further journeys that day are free. Gold Class (Silver Nol with Gold upgrade): AED 6.00/10.00/15.00 per zone. Red Ticket (single-use paper): AED 6.00/8.00/10.00 per zone — significantly more expensive per trip than Nol. Buy a Nol card if you'll use the metro more than twice.

How do I know which zone my journey spans?

The Dubai Metro is divided into 3 zones. Zone 1 covers central areas: from Al Jafiliya / World Trade Centre to Business Bay / Burj Khalifa area, and equivalent central Green Line stations. Zone 2 covers the broader city centre and inner suburbs: most of the Red Line from Deira to Dubai Internet City, and most of the Green Line. Zone 3 covers outer areas: from Rashidiya and airport stations on the Red Line, Al Qusais on the Green Line, and Jebel Ali / Expo on the Red Line. The RTA website and app show zones for each station.

Is there a women-only metro car?

Yes — the first car of every train (opposite end to the Gold Class cars) has a Women and Children's cabin, available to women and children under 10 at no extra charge. Men are not permitted in this section. During peak hours, this cabin is often less crowded than standard cars. Signage is in pink. This cabin is available to all Nol card types (Silver, Gold, Red Ticket).

Can I eat or drink on the metro?

No — food and drink (except water in sealed bottles in some circumstances) are strictly prohibited on Dubai Metro trains and in stations. The fine is AED 200 for consuming food or drinks. This includes coffee cups, chewing gum, and all edibles. Dubai Metro is one of the cleanest metro systems in the world — this rule is rigorously enforced.

What is the Gold Class upgrade?

Gold Class gives access to the front 1–2 carriages of every Dubai Metro train. These carriages are significantly less crowded, have guaranteed seating in most cases, and are quieter and more comfortable than standard cars. To use Gold Class, your Nol card balance must be loaded (you pay double the Silver fare — AED 6/10/15 vs 3/5/7.50). Any Nol card can be used for Gold Class — you don't need a separate gold card, just sufficient balance and you tap in at the gold section gate.

Does the metro go to Dubai Airport?

Yes — both Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 of Dubai International Airport (DXB) are served by the Red Line. Terminal 3 is the main Emirates terminal. The Red Line runs directly from both airport terminals through central Dubai (Union, BurJuman, World Trade Centre, Emirates Towers, Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall, Business Bay) to the Marina / JLT / Expo area. Al Maktoum International (DWC) near Expo is also accessible via the Expo station. No metro connection to Sharjah or Abu Dhabi airports.

How long does a typical metro journey take?

Approximately 2–3 minutes per station, plus boarding time. Add 5–10 minutes for interchange transfers at Union or BurJuman. Typical journey examples: Rashidiya to Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall ~30 minutes; Airport T3 to DMCC ~35 minutes; Al Qusais (Green) to BurJuman to Internet City ~45 minutes; Union to Financial Centre (DIFC) ~15 minutes. The RTA app has a Journey Planner for real-time estimates.

Are there metro feeder buses?

Yes — RTA operates feeder buses (F prefix routes) from most metro stations to nearby residential areas and destinations not directly on the metro line. Nol cards work on feeder buses with the same zonal fare system. Journey Planner on the RTA app calculates integrated metro + bus routes. For areas without feeder bus service (villa communities, inland areas), taxis or Careem are needed for the final leg.

Is there a metro to Abu Dhabi?

No — there is no metro connection between Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The Red Line ends at Centrepoint (Rashidiya) in the east and Jebel Ali/Expo in the west. Abu Dhabi is approximately 130km from Dubai. For Abu Dhabi: express buses from Dubai's Union Square bus station (Bus E100, E101) or taxis/Careem are the options. Journey time 90–120 minutes by bus.

What is the RTA app and is it useful?

The RTA Dubai app (available iOS and Android, free) provides: real-time Journey Planner for metro + bus routes, Nol card balance checking and top-up, S'hail integrated transport planner, taxi/Careem booking, traffic cameras, and parking. It's the essential app for navigating Dubai's public transport system. The Journey Planner is particularly useful for multi-modal trips combining metro with feeder buses.

Can I take luggage on the Dubai Metro?

Yes — luggage is permitted on Dubai Metro. For heavy luggage, Gold Class is recommended as standard cars during peak hours are crowded. Luggage must not block aisles or exit doors. There are no overhead luggage racks — you hold luggage or it stands by your feet. Trolley suitcases fit comfortably in non-peak services. Animals (except registered guide dogs in carriers) are not permitted.

How does the daily fare cap work?

With a Silver Nol card, your total metro fares are capped at AED 14.00 per calendar day. Once you've spent AED 14.00 on journeys in a day, all subsequent metro journeys that day are free — you still tap in and out but are not charged. For a Zone 1 commuter making 5 trips at AED 3.00 each = AED 15.00, the cap saves AED 1.00. For heavy users making 6+ Zone 2 trips at AED 5.00, the cap provides significant savings. Gold cap is AED 28.00/day.

Dubai Metro Route Planner

Name: Dubai Metro Route Planner — Fares, Times & Line Guide 2026
Author: Dubai Practical Editorial Team

Plan your Dubai Metro journey — select your departure and destination station to get the route, travel time, fare, and transfer information. Includes Red Line, Green Line, and Route 2020 / Expo Line. Nol card fares, Gold Class pricing, operating hours, and tips for first-time riders.

Last updated: May 2026

Dubai Practical Editorial Team· Collaborative authorship

Signed by: Sarah Al Qasimi (Lead Editor). Fact-checked by the full editorial team.

About the Dubai Metro

Dubai Metro is one of the most modern and efficient urban rail networks in the world — fully automated (driverless), air-conditioned throughout, and remarkably punctual. The Red Line and Green Line together cover 75+ stations, connecting the airport to the Marina, with the Route 2020 extension reaching the Expo/Dubai South area.

For daily commuters, the metro is the most cost-effective option in the city. A Silver Nol card with a AED 14 daily cap means unlimited journeys after two Zone 1 trips. Monthly metro spend for a Zone 2 commuter: approximately AED 300–350, versus AED 1,500–2,500/month in taxi or Careem costs for the same commute.

Metro Route Planner

From Station

To Station

Select departure and destination stations above to see your metro route, fare, and travel time.

Fare note — daily cap

Silver Nol daily cap: AED 14.00. Once you spend AED 14 in a day, all additional journeys are free. Gold Class daily cap: AED 28.00. The RTA Journey Planner app gives real-time routing and live service updates.

Metro Operating Hours

Sunday – Wednesday

5:00am – Midnight

Thursday

5:00am – 1:00am Friday

Friday

10:00am – 1:00am Saturday

Saturday

5:00am – Midnight

Friday late start

Friday metro service starts at 10:00am — not 5:00am like other days. Plan weekend morning activities accordingly. If you need early Friday transport, taxis and Careem operate 24/7.

Metro vs Taxi: 5 Popular Routes

Route	Metro Time	Metro (Silver Nol)	Taxi / Careem Est.	Taxi Time (Off-peak)	Best Option
Union → Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall	~12 min	AED 3.00	AED 25–35	~15 min	Metro wins on cost
Airport T3 → Deira City Centre	~8 min	AED 5.00	AED 30–45	~20 min	Metro wins
DMCC (JLT) → Financial Centre (DIFC)	~22 min	AED 5.00	AED 30–50	~25 min (traffic variable)	Metro wins
Al Qusais (Green) → BurJuman → Internet City	~45 min (1 transfer)	AED 7.50	AED 60–90	~35 min off-peak / 60+ min peak	Metro wins cost; taxi faster off-peak
Airport T1 → Expo	~55 min	AED 7.50	AED 80–120	~45 min off-peak	Taxi faster; metro far cheaper

RouteUnion → Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall

Metro Time~12 min

Metro (Silver Nol)AED 3.00

Taxi / Careem Est.AED 25–35

Taxi Time (Off-peak)~15 min

Best OptionMetro wins on cost

RouteAirport T3 → Deira City Centre

Metro Time~8 min

Metro (Silver Nol)AED 5.00

Taxi / Careem Est.AED 30–45

Taxi Time (Off-peak)~20 min

Best OptionMetro wins

RouteDMCC (JLT) → Financial Centre (DIFC)

Metro Time~22 min

Metro (Silver Nol)AED 5.00

Taxi / Careem Est.AED 30–50

Taxi Time (Off-peak)~25 min (traffic variable)

Best OptionMetro wins

RouteAl Qusais (Green) → BurJuman → Internet City

Metro Time~45 min (1 transfer)

Metro (Silver Nol)AED 7.50

Taxi / Careem Est.AED 60–90

Taxi Time (Off-peak)~35 min off-peak / 60+ min peak

Best OptionMetro wins cost; taxi faster off-peak

RouteAirport T1 → Expo

Metro Time~55 min

Metro (Silver Nol)AED 7.50

Taxi / Careem Est.AED 80–120

Taxi Time (Off-peak)~45 min off-peak

Best OptionTaxi faster; metro far cheaper

Silver Nol vs Gold Class

Feature	Silver Nol Card	Gold Class Nol
Zone 1 fare	AED 3.00	AED 6.00
Zone 2 fare	AED 5.00	AED 10.00
Zone 3 fare	AED 7.50	AED 15.00
Train car	Standard cars (all except front 2)	Front 2 cars — dedicated, less crowded
Daily cap	AED 14 (unlimited journeys after cap)	AED 28
Card cost	AED 25 (AED 19 refundable balance)	AED 25 (same card, top up for gold access)
Best for	Daily commuters, budget-conscious	Business travellers, luggage, comfort commute

FeatureZone 1 fare

Silver Nol CardAED 3.00

Gold Class NolAED 6.00

FeatureZone 2 fare

Silver Nol CardAED 5.00

Gold Class NolAED 10.00

FeatureZone 3 fare

Silver Nol CardAED 7.50

Gold Class NolAED 15.00

FeatureTrain car

Silver Nol CardStandard cars (all except front 2)

Gold Class NolFront 2 cars — dedicated, less crowded

FeatureDaily cap

Silver Nol CardAED 14 (unlimited journeys after cap)

Gold Class NolAED 28

FeatureCard cost

Silver Nol CardAED 25 (AED 19 refundable balance)

Gold Class NolAED 25 (same card, top up for gold access)

FeatureBest for

Silver Nol CardDaily commuters, budget-conscious

Gold Class NolBusiness travellers, luggage, comfort commute

Using the Metro for the First Time — 5 Steps

1
Buy a Nol card at any station
Silver Nol card costs AED 25 (includes AED 19 reloadable balance). Available from ticket machines at every station — cash and card accepted. For one-off trips, Red Ticket (paper single-use) is also available from machines at AED 6–10 depending on zones.
Cost: AED 25 for Silver Nol
2
Top up your balance
Top up at ticket machines (cash or card), customer service counters, or the RTA Dubai app. Recommended: load AED 50–100 if you'll be commuting regularly. Balance never expires. Daily fare cap: AED 14 Silver / AED 28 Gold — after cap you ride free for the rest of the day.
3
Tap in at the turnstile
Hold your Nol card against the yellow card reader at the station entry turnstile. The gate opens and your card is charged the zone fare at exit. If insufficient balance, the gate won't open — top up before entering.
4
Board the correct train car
The front 1–2 cars are Gold Class — only for Gold Nol users. There is also a dedicated Women & Children's cabin (marked in pink — women and children under 10 only). Board any other car as standard. Rush hour (8–9am, 5–7pm) is very crowded — plan accordingly.
5
Tap out at your destination
Tap your card on the yellow reader at the exit turnstile at your destination station. The system calculates the fare based on your journey distance and zones. If you forget to tap out, you may be charged the maximum fare. Always tap out.

Lost Your Nol Card? 4 Steps

1
Report the lost card to RTA
Call the RTA customer service centre (800-090) or visit any metro station's customer service desk. Report the card number (noted from your original purchase receipt or via the RTA app if you registered the card). Registered cards can be blocked to prevent balance theft.
Time: Immediately
2
Purchase a new Silver Nol card
Buy a replacement from any station ticket machine — AED 25, includes AED 19 balance. If your old card was registered, apply for a balance transfer from the old card to the new one via the customer service counter.
Cost: AED 25Time: Same day
3
Apply for balance transfer (if card was registered)
If your old card was registered online via the RTA Nol portal, you can apply for a balance transfer to your new card. Bring: old card details, new card, Emirates ID or passport. Processing 3–7 business days.
Time: 3–7 business days
4
Register your new card online
Register at nol.ae or via the RTA app — link your card to your account to enable balance transfers, track journey history, and enable card blocking if lost again. Registration is free.

Monthly Commuter Cost by Zone

Monthly Metro Commute Cost Estimates — Silver Nol
Item	Price
Silver Nol
Zone 1 commuter — 22 working days × 2 trips (capped at AED 14/day)	AED 308/month
Zone 2 commuter — 22 working days × 2 trips	~AED 220/month (10 trips × AED 5 × 22 days capped)
Zone 3 commuter — 22 working days × 2 trips	~AED 308/month (daily cap AED 14 most days)
Gold Nol
Gold Class Zone 1 commuter — 22 days	AED 616/month (daily cap AED 28)
Leisure
Weekend leisure trips (est. 4 trips Zone 2)	AED 20–40/month additional
Estimated Total
Monthly Nol top-up (typical commuter, Silver)	AED 300–350/month total

Key Rules and Tips

Peak hours: 8–9am and 5–7pm

Standard cars during peak hours are extremely crowded — standing room only. Gold Class or the Women & Children cabin are significantly more comfortable. Consider travelling 15 minutes earlier or later to avoid the worst crush, especially on the Red Line between Deira and DMCC/JLT.

No food or drink — AED 200 fine

Eating and drinking (including coffee, juice, chewing gum) is strictly prohibited on trains and in stations. The fine is AED 200 and is enforced by plainclothes inspectors. Finish your coffee before entering the station.

Women & Children cabin

The first car (far end from Gold Class) of every train has a designated Women and Children cabin — available to women and children under 10 at no extra charge using any Nol card. This cabin is typically less crowded than standard cars even during peak hours.

Friday afternoon late start

Friday services begin at 10:00am. If attending Friday prayers, arriving before 11:30am at the mosque, or needing to travel early Friday morning — plan for taxis or Careem. The Friday late start often catches new expats off-guard.

Pets — not permitted (except guide dogs)

Pets are not allowed on Dubai Metro, except registered guide dogs in appropriate carriers. For pet transport, use a private car, taxi (driver consent required), or specialist pet transport service.

Metro vs Taxi for Daily Commute

Metro advantages

Fixed predictable cost — AED 14/day daily cap for unlimited journeys
No parking fees, no traffic stress, no salik charges
Air-conditioned, clean, modern, reliable (very rarely delayed)
Airport connectivity on Red Line — no taxi needed from DXB T1/T3
Metro Mall stops for shopping without a car (Dubai Mall, Ibn Battuta, etc.)
Green and environment-friendly vs private car

Metro limitations

Fixed routes only — cannot reach villas, suburban areas, inland communities
Peak hours (8–9am, 5–7pm) very crowded — standing-room only in standard cars
No door-to-door — requires walking, feeder buses, or taxis for final leg
Friday late start (10am) — impractical for early Friday commitments
No connections to Jumeirah residential areas, Arabian Ranches, Dubai Hills
Luggage on crowded trains is uncomfortable (though Gold Class helps)

Silver Nol vs Gold Class — Is the Upgrade Worth It?

Reasons to stick with Silver Nol

AED 3–7.50 vs Gold AED 6–15 — halves daily commute cost
AED 14/day daily cap provides unlimited journeys after 2 zone-1 trips
Same network access, same speed, same reliability as Gold Class
Sufficient for most commuters — standard cars are not uncomfortable off-peak

When Gold Class is worth it

Peak hours: very crowded standard cars — squeezing in can be stressful
No seating guarantee during rush hours
Women cannot use Gold cars (except Women & Children cabin, which is free for all women)

Gold Class verdict

Gold Class is worth the upgrade for: daily commuters who value a guaranteed seat during peak hours, business travellers with luggage, and anyone travelling on the Red Line between Deira/Airport and Internet City during 8–9am or 5–7pm when standard cars are packed. At AED 10/day vs AED 5, the premium is AED 110/month — often worth it for comfort and productivity.

Dubai Metro Route Planner

About the Dubai Metro

Metro Route Planner

Metro Operating Hours

Metro vs Taxi: 5 Popular Routes

Silver Nol vs Gold Class

Using the Metro for the First Time — 5 Steps

Buy a Nol card at any station

Top up your balance

Tap in at the turnstile

Board the correct train car

Tap out at your destination

Lost Your Nol Card? 4 Steps

Report the lost card to RTA

Purchase a new Silver Nol card

Apply for balance transfer (if card was registered)

Register your new card online

Monthly Commuter Cost by Zone

Key Rules and Tips

Metro vs Taxi for Daily Commute

Metro advantages

Metro limitations

Silver Nol vs Gold Class — Is the Upgrade Worth It?

Reasons to stick with Silver Nol

When Gold Class is worth it

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Guides

Transportation in Dubai

Dubai Apps

Expat Checklist

Things to Do

Useful Contacts