Metro in Dubai - tips for traveling by metro

Public transport in Dubai: metro, buses, trams

Public transport is the best way to get around Dubai on holiday. Tourists are keen to use public transport, just as Dubai residents do every day. Dubai's public transport system includes the metro, buses and trams. Buses run throughout Dubai, but they are not very fast and are more for local people to get around the city. The only tram line runs in the Dubai Marina area, as well as Dubai Internet City, and is a good alternative for getting around these neighbourhoods. Best of all, however, is the metro, the main means of public transport for tourists on holiday in Dubai. The metro will get you to virtually all the major tourist attractions in the city and will cost you a small amount of money.

Rules for using the metro in Dubai

The Dubai metro can resemble the Singapore metro in terms of prohibitions and regulations. The rules for using the metro are not as strict as in Singapore, but the Dubai metro has its own rules of use that must be followed when using the trains. What are the rules for using the metro in Dubai? What are the penalties for breaking the rules? Read tips for travelling on the metro in Dubai:

• Metro travel in Dubai is only possible by purchasing tickets or by picking up an NOL card at the metro entrance. Ticket control appears on trains.
   
• Women and women with children can use carriages specifically for women with children. They are less crowded, which is especially useful during rush hour.
   
• The metro will take you to most of Dubai's most popular tourist attractions. It is worth making a NOL city card, which is more cost-effective than buying individual tickets.
   
• Eating, drinking and chewing gum are not allowed on Dubai Metro trains. There is a fine of AED 100 for doing so. You can drink or eat at the station, before entering the metro.
   
• The fine for smoking on the metro is 200 AED.
   
• The fine for carrying unauthorised animals on the metro is 100 AED.
   
• There is a fine of 100 AED for putting feet on a seat or making noise and disturbing the peace in the metro.

How many metro lines are there in Dubai?

The Dubai Metro has two lines: the Red Line (M1), which stretches from the west to the east of the city, and the Green Line (M2), which runs through Dubai's old Deira district. The journey between the extreme stations of both lines takes approximately 1h and 35 minutes. The Red Line (M1) will get you from Dubai Marina to Burj Khalifa, the Museum of the Future or Dubai Airport, while changing to the Green Line (M2) will allow you to travel comfortably around Old Dubai and visit the Gold Souk and Spice Souk. The metro lines intersect, so you can easily change metro lines without leaving and paying for your ticket again.

Dubai's main metro stations

Dubai has a total of 53 metro stations. Not all of the stations are interesting or important from a tourist's perspective. Which Dubai metro stations are worth looking out for and which will you need when visiting Dubai by metro?

• Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall station - is located in the Red Line zone and is right in the centre of Dubai. Getting off at this station, you will find yourself next to the Burj Khalifa itself and the giant shopping mall - Dubai Mall.
   
• Sobha Realty and DMCC station - the main stations serving the Dubai Marina district, located in the Red Line zone. They facilitate an easy transfer to the tram which will take you to the central part of the district, The Walk or Dubai Harbour.
   
• Mall of the Emirates station - part of the metro's red line, located next to the mall - Mall of the Emirates.
   
• BurJuman and Union Station - Red Line Metro stations, allowing you to transfer from the Red Line to the Green Line Metro and explore old Dubai, more specifically the Deira and Bur Dubai districts.
   
• Gold Souq - the most important station for Green Line Metro tourists, allows you to get off right next to Dubai's famous Gold Market.
   
• Airport Terminal 1 and 3 stations - are key points along the Red Line route. They provide a direct link between the city and Dubai International Airport (DXB). They act as an important transfer point for travellers using other modes of public transport.
   

Price list for metro tickets in Dubai

How much does the metro cost in Dubai? How do you buy metro tickets in Dubai? It depends on the number of zones travelled in the city and the ticket you have. The map of Dubai is divided into 7 zones, each zone contains metro stations, bus stops, tram stops and stations of the so-called water buses. The Dubai Metro passes through 4 zones (zones 1, 2, 5 and 6). The amount you pay for your public transport journey in Dubai will mainly depend on how many zones of Dubai you pass through. What are the metro fares in Dubai?

Single metro ticket and NOL card

Before entering the Dubai Metro, you must remember to purchase a single-use ticket or NOL card. You'll buy these at metro station counters and ticket machines. You can also buy your NOL card online on the nol Pay app. When you buy a NOL card, you don't have to worry about the number of zones you intend to travel. You need to bounce the card when you pass through the metro station gates and then when you get off at your destination station. The system itself recognises the number of zones travelled and charges the card accordingly. You can top up your NOL card using the free nol Pay app. How much are metro fares in Dubai?

• NOL card - the price of Dubai Metro tickets using the NOL card varies depending on the type of card:
   
  • SilverNOL - the ticket price with a silver NOL card is AED 3 for 1 zone, AED 5 for 2 zones and AED 7.50 for more than 3 zones.
     
  • Blue NOL (for students, seniors, residents and people with disabilities) - Ticket price with silver NOL card is 3 AED for 1 zone, 5 AED for 2 zones and 7.50 AED for more than 3 zones.
     
  • Gold NOL - Ticket price with Gold card is AED 8 for 1 zone, AED 12 for 2 zones and AED 17 for more than 3 zones.
     
• Single ticket - the standard ticket price for 1 zone is 4 AED, for 2 zones 6 AED, and for more than 3 zones 8.50 AED.

What is the NOL card in Dubai? It is a card for public transport in Dubai. You will only pay for metro, tram and bus journeys in Dubai with the NOL card (more recently also for Palm Monarail journeys). It can be purchased at any metro station from a special machine. It costs AED 25 (including a balance of AED 19 to use for rides) for the silver and gold versions and AED 70 (including a balance of AED 20 to use for rides) for the personalised version. Each card is per person and is valid for five years from the time of issue.

For tourists who have arrived in Dubai for a week or two, the silver NOL card will be the most cost-effective and will completely meet their needs for cheap travel in Dubai. The gold NOL card allows you to stay in a special Gold Class cab on the metro and tram, while the personalised (blue) card protects your card balance if it is lost or stolen, and offers discounts for students and senior citizens. There are also passes that allow unlimited rides. The cheapest costs AED 110 per week. It is only cost-effective if you will be riding several times a day for 7 days - otherwise we recommend opting for a silver card. Please note that the minimum price to top up your NOL card at a machine in metro stations is 50 AED and 20 AED via the nol Pay app. To ride the metro in Dubai, you must have a minimum of 15 AED on your NOL card.

Dubai Metro operating hours

The Dubai Metro operates seven days a week. Public transport serves residents and tourists 365 days a year. You must be aware that the Dubai Metro has its own operating hours. What are the operating hours of the Dubai Metro?

• Monday-Thursday: from 5am to 0am (midnight)
   
• Friday: from 5am to 1am (next day)
   
• Saturday: from 5:00 a.m. to 0:00 a.m. (midnight)
   
• Sunday: from 8:00 a.m. to 0:00 (midnight)

The departure times of the first and last metro trains may vary from station to station. Metro operating hours may also vary on public holidays and public holidays. What is the frequency of metro departures in Dubai? Metro trains in Dubai depart very frequently and the wait for the next metro is very short. During peak hours, the metro runs every four minutes on both lines, and every seven or eight minutes during off-peak hours.

The metro is the most convenient of the cheapest ways to explore Dubai. You can take the metro to almost all the major attractions in Dubai, which you book at the lowest prices at Two Continents

Types of Dubai Metro carriages

Dubai Metro carriages are divided into three types: general carriages, women and women with children carriages and Gold class carriages. The basic carriages are open to everyone and you pay to travel in them with a single ticket or, for example, a silver NOL card. The women's carriages are for women only or women with children. They are less crowded, more comfortable and guarantee a more comfortable journey. This does not mean that women cannot travel in classic carriages or Gold Class carriages - women can travel in any of the carriages. Gold Class is the most exclusive option and the opportunity to travel in a special carriage. Gold Class carriages are more comfortable, less crowded and have more comfortable seats. When entering the carriage, look at the colour and description of the carriage - only those with a Gold card are allowed into Gold. On the other hand, the carriage marked pink is a carriage for women and young children only.

Map of the Dubai Metro

The Dubai Metro has more than 50 modern stations and two metro lines: the red (M1) and the green (M2). For a good planning of your metro journey to Dubai, a map of the stops will be essential. On the map below you will find the Dubai Metro stop schedule, stop names and intersecting stations with the possibility to transfer from one metro line to another:
 

How to take the Dubai Metro to...

If you're heading to Dubai and wondering how to get to Dubai's top tourist attractions by metro, this quick guide will make travelling on holiday easier:

• How to get to the Burj Khalifa by metro in Dubai. You need to get off at the Burj Khalifa/ Dubai Mall Metro Red Station.
   
• How to get to the Museum of the Future by metro in Dubai? You need to get off at the Emirates Towers Metro Station red station.
   
• How to take the Dubai Metro to Old Dubai? You need to get off at the green/red Union Metro Station or Burjuman Metro Station.
   
• How to take the Dubai Metro to the airport? You need to get off at the red metro station Terminal 1 or Terminal 3.
   
• How to take the Dubai Metro to the Gold Market? You need to get off at the green Gold Souq Metro Station.
   
• How to take the Dubai Metro to the beaches? The metro does not go directly to the beach in Dubai. For example, the fastest metro journey to the beach in Dubai would be: get off at DMCC Metro Station red and walk to JBR beaches.

Questions and answers (FAQs)

• How do I buy a metro ticket in Dubai?

You can buy a Dubai Metro ticket from a machine at a Metro station or ticket window, or you can use your NOL card, the Dubai Public Transport Card. The NOL card can be bought just like a single ticket at metro station machines and ticket windows. It costs AED 25 (including a balance of AED 19 to use for rides) for the silver and gold versions and AED 70 (including a balance of AED 20 to use for rides) for the personalised version.

• Is the Dubai metro safe?

The Dubai Metro is a very safe mode of public transport. The carriages have no driver, are automated and trouble-free. The platforms are modern and the entrance to the metro is gated and only opens when the train arrives, so there is no possibility of falling on the tracks. Stations and trains are adapted for people with disabilities and the threat of theft is virtually non-existent.

• What are the operating hours of the Dubai Metro?

The Dubai Metro is not 24/7. The Dubai Metro operates seven days a week with the following hours: Monday to Thursday from 5am to 0am, Fridays from 5am to 1am (the next day), Saturdays from 5am to 0am and Sundays from 8am to 0am.

• How many metro lines are there in Dubai?

There are currently two metro lines in Dubai: the Red Line and the Green Line. The red metro line connects the southern part of the city to the major tourist attractions and the airport in the north of Dubai, while the green metro line mainly serves Old Dubai.

• Does the Dubai Metro commute to the airport?

Yes, the metro commutes to Dubai Airport. Dubai International Airport is reached by the Red Line of the Metro. The metro has its stations at Dubai DXB Airport at Terminal 1 and Terminal 3, which are called Airport T1 and Airport T3.