Dubai Metro Guide 2026: Lines, Fares, Hours

Dubai Metro is a fully driverless rail system that opened on 9 September 2009. Today it runs two lines, the Red Line and the Green Line, with roughly 90 km of track and 53 stations. According to Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), the metro carried 294.7 million passengers in 2025, about a third of all public transport and taxi trips in the city.

This guide covers Dubai Metro lines, key stations, operating hours, nol card types and current fares, based on the RTA's official tariff. At the end you will find a short overview of the tram, buses, taxis, Careem and water transport.

Dubai Metro Lines

The network has two operating lines. The Red Line runs the length of the city from northeast to southwest, serving the airport, Deira, Sheikh Zayed Road, Downtown, Al Barsha and Dubai Marina. The Green Line serves the older districts of Deira and Bur Dubai. The two lines meet at Union and BurJuman.

Note: Union and BurJuman are counted on both lines, so the per-line total is 55; the network has 53 distinct stations.

Red Line and Route 2020

The Red Line starts at Centrepoint (formerly Rashidiya) and splits at the Jabal Ali interchange (currently named National Paints). One branch runs to Life Pharmacy (formerly UAE Exchange); the other, known as Route 2020, runs to Expo City. Route 2020 is 15 km long with 7 stations and fully opened in 2021, linking residential areas such as Al Furjan, Discovery Gardens, Jumeirah Golf Estates and Dubai Investments Park. Since April 2024, trains from Centrepoint run straight through to Life Pharmacy, so travellers heading to Expo 2020 may need to change at the interchange.

Green Line

The Green Line runs from e& (formerly Etisalat) in the north to Creek in the south. Al Ghubaiba and Al Fahidi stations are within walking distance of historic Bur Dubai and the abra stations. Dubai Airport Free Zone station offers a transfer to the airport's Terminal 2.

Key stations

Some station names change when naming rights are sold to a new sponsor, so check the live map in the RTA's S'hail app when planning a trip.

Dubai Metro Timings

Under the RTA's standard timetable, the metro runs:

• Monday – Thursday: 05:00 – 00:00
• Friday: 05:00 – 01:00 (next day)
• Saturday: 05:00 – 00:00
• Sunday: 08:00 – 00:00

Hours are extended or changed during Ramadan, Eid, New Year's Eve and major events; for New Year 2025–26 the metro ran for 43 hours non-stop. Peak hours are usually 07:00–09:00 and 17:00–19:00.

Nol Card Types and Dubai Metro Fares

Cash is not accepted on Dubai's metro, buses, tram or water transport; you pay with a nol card. The same card works in taxis, RTA car parks and more than 2,000 shops. Cards are sold at station ticket offices and vending machines.

Card types

A registered card (Blue, or a Silver/Gold card registered online) can have its balance protected if lost. Students, senior Emirati citizens and some social groups get 50% off with a Blue card; people of determination travel free on the metro and buses. Children aged 5 and under ride free.

Single-trip fares (2026)

Fares depend on how many fare zones you cross. Dubai is divided into 7 zones.

Passes are better value for regular riders. Under the RTA tariff, a 7-day all-zone Silver pass costs AED 110 and a 30-day all-zone pass AED 350 (AED 140 for a single zone). Anonymous cards can only load the 7-day pass.

You need a minimum balance of AED 7.5 to pass the gate. If you board a bus within 30 minutes of leaving the metro, it counts as a transfer. Always tap out at the exit, or you may be charged the maximum fare.

Gold Class and women and children cabin

Every train has a Gold Class cabin at the front, with wide leather seats and a view through the front window; only Gold card or Gold Red Ticket holders may use it. The cabin behind it is reserved for women and children, and male passengers entering it can be fined.

Rules and Fines

Rules are strictly enforced. Eating, drinking and chewing gum are not allowed in stations or on trains. Each passenger may carry up to two suitcases, with a large bag no bigger than 81 x 58 x 30 cm. Children under 8 must travel with an adult.

Getting Around Dubai Beyond the Metro

The metro is the backbone, but it does not reach every neighbourhood. RTA figures show 802 million trips on public transport, shared mobility and taxis in 2025. The other options:

Dubai Tram

The tram runs for about 11 km with 11 stops through Al Sufouh, Dubai Marina, JLT and JBR. It connects with the Red Line at Sobha Realty and DMCC stations and with the Palm Monorail at Palm Jumeirah stop. nol cards are valid; it carried 9.9 million passengers in 2025.

Buses

Air-conditioned RTA buses reach neighbourhoods the metro does not and run feeder routes to metro stations. Buses carried 197.2 million passengers in 2025. You pay with nol, tapping on when you board and off when you leave.

Taxis, Careem and Uber

Taxis run 24/7 on the meter and carried 209 million passengers in 2025. Street-hail taxis start at about AED 5 during the day, with a minimum fare of around AED 12–13 per trip. Taxis from the airport start at AED 25. The per-km rate is adjusted periodically by the RTA in line with fuel prices, and AED 4 is added for each Salik toll gate. Pink-roofed taxis with female drivers are available for women.

The Careem and Uber apps can book both private cars and RTA taxis (the "Hala" option on Careem). App fares can rise at peak times, so for short trips the metro or tram is often cheaper.

Abra, water taxi and ferry

Crossing Dubai Creek on a traditional wooden abra takes a few minutes and costs a token amount (around AED 1). Dubai Marina has water taxis, and ferries run along the coast; nol cards are accepted on most of these services. Marine transport carried 18.4 million passengers in 2025.

Living Near the Metro: A Note for Home Seekers

When renting or buying in Dubai, walking distance to a metro station affects both your daily commute costs and how easy the home is to let. That is why Red Line areas such as Business Bay, Downtown, Al Barsha, JLT and Dubai Marina are popular with tenants. For current rents by area, see our Dubai rental prices guide.

The Blue Line, planned for 2029, will bring the metro to Mirdif, Al Warqa, International City, Academic City and Dubai Creek Harbour, none of which has a station today. The Creek Harbour station has been announced as the world's tallest metro station at 74 metres. We cover the area in more detail in our Dubai Creek Tower article.

Future Projects: Blue Line, Gold Line and Air Taxis

Blue Line: According to the RTA, it will be 30 km long with 14 stations, 9 elevated and 5 underground. Creek (Green Line), Centrepoint (Red Line) and International City 1 will be interchanges. It is scheduled to open on 9 September 2029, the metro's 20th anniversary, and will be the first metro line to cross Dubai Creek.

Gold Line: Approved in April 2026 at a cost of AED 34 billion, it will be Dubai's first fully underground line, with 42 km and 18 stations. The announced route runs from Al Ghubaiba in Bur Dubai via Business Bay and Meydan to Jumeirah Golf Estates, with completion targeted for 2032.

Air taxis: The RTA signed an agreement in 2024 with an operator for electric air taxis. The first vertiports are planned at Dubai International Airport, Downtown, Dubai Marina and Palm Jumeirah, with commercial flights targeted for 2026. Check RTA announcements for the confirmed launch date and fares.

If you are thinking about moving to Dubai, our living in Dubai guide covers schools, healthcare and cost of living alongside transport.