BEST OF DUBAI · CITY GUIDES · PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Dubai Metro timings, routes and the quickest way to use it well
The practical Red Line and Green Line guide for airport runs, Dubai Mall, the Marina, Old Dubai and late-night journeys — with current hours, nol fares and the mistakes that can make a simple trip harder than it needs to be.
START HERE
Use the Metro when it genuinely makes the journey easier
The Dubai Metro is excellent for the routes it actually serves: DXB Terminal 1 and Terminal 3, Deira, Bur Dubai, DIFC, Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai Marina, JLT, Ibn Battuta, Al Furjan and Expo City. It is not a door-to-door system for every Dubai neighbourhood — plan the final walk, feeder bus, tram or taxi before you leave.
For a standard trip, the decision is simple: use the Red Line for the airport, Sheikh Zayed Road, Downtown and the Marina corridor; use the Green Line for Old Dubai, the Creek, Deira and Bur Dubai. Use the official RTA timetable for exact last-train times at your particular station.
QUICK PICKS
Dubai Metro timings at a glance
These are the station opening hours for both Metro lines. They are not a promise that the last train leaves your station at closing time.
Normal weekday operating window.
Late service into Saturday morning.
Same opening window as a standard weekday.
Later morning start than the rest of the week.
METRO MATCHER
Choose the route before you choose the station
I am travelling to or from DXB
Use the Red Line for Terminal 1 and Terminal 3. Confirm which terminal your flight uses, then check the first or last train in the correct direction.
See DXB guidance →I am going to Dubai Mall or DIFC
Stay on the Red Line. Burj Khalifa / Dubai Mall serves the mall area; Financial Centre and Emirates Towers work for DIFC and nearby towers.
See Downtown guidance →I am staying in Marina, JBR or heading to Palm Jumeirah
Take the Red Line, then connect to the Tram at Sobha Realty / DMCC. The Metro does not take you straight onto the Palm.
See Marina & Palm guidance →I want Old Dubai, Deira or the Creek
The Green Line is normally the better starting point. Use it for places such as Al Fahidi, Al Ghubaiba, Baniyas Square, Gold Souq and Creek.
See Old Dubai guidance →HOW WE KEEP THIS GUIDE USEFUL
Timings are a moving target. The planning rule is simple.
This is a practical city guide, not a static timetable copied from an old blog. We use RTA’s current standard schedule, then point readers to the official live/planned tools for anything time-sensitive.
What we verify — and what you should still check before travelling+
We verify core opening hours, route structure, official station names, interchange points, nol options and fare rules against RTA material. However, public-holiday service, disruption, the exact last departure at a particular station and connection times can change. Do a final RTA or S’hail check before a flight, show, late dinner or last-train journey.
THE PRACTICAL ROUTE GUIDE
Five Metro decisions Dubai visitors make most often
The aim is not memorising every station. It is knowing which line, interchange and final connection make sense for the destination in front of you.
BEST FOR DXB TERMINAL 1 & TERMINAL 3
Airport: use the Red Line — but check your terminal and timing
The convenient airport connection for many DXB passengers, not every terminal or every flight.
Airport Terminal 1 and Airport Terminal 3 are official Red Line stations. That makes the Metro a strong option for light luggage and hotels along the Red Line corridor, especially outside road-traffic peaks. It is not a substitute for confirming your actual terminal, airline check-in timing, luggage situation and the last train after arrival.
Airport luggage and timing rules worth knowing+
Luggage: RTA states one large suitcase up to 81cm × 58cm × 30cm and one small suitcase up to 55cm × 38cm × 20cm per passenger; luggage should use the dedicated areas in each cabin.
Timing: A train can be technically available at the terminal while still being the wrong choice for a very tight check-in deadline. Use the Metro when it leaves a comfortable buffer, not as a heroic last-minute airport plan.
BEST FOR DOWNTOWN, DIFC & DUBAI MALL
Downtown: the Metro gets you close — not always straight to the door
A simple Red Line journey, followed by a potentially longer final connection than visitors expect.
For Dubai Mall and Burj Khalifa, use Burj Khalifa / Dubai Mall (R25). For DIFC, use Financial Centre or Emirates Towers depending on the exact office, hotel or restaurant. The Metro is a smart way to bypass Sheikh Zayed Road traffic, but Downtown is large: follow signs and allow time for the bridge, walkway, bus connection or taxi at the final stage.
Why a map pin alone can mislead you here+
In central Dubai, the correct station depends on the building entrance, the side of Sheikh Zayed Road and whether a covered bridge or internal mall route is involved. Start with the station RTA lists for the destination, then check the walking route at the time you will travel.
BEST FOR DUBAI MARINA, JBR & THE PALM CONNECTION
Marina & Palm: Red Line first, then use the Tram strategically
The useful switch point for a neighbourhood where the rail network comes in layers.
For the Marina/JBR corridor, the Red Line typically gets you to Sobha Realty or DMCC, where you can interchange with the Dubai Tram. The Tram then covers the waterfront route and connects onward towards Palm Gateway. The Metro does not directly run onto Palm Jumeirah, so do not stay on the Red Line expecting a Palm stop.
When a taxi may be better than the final rail connection+
The Metro plus Tram is very good when your hotel or destination is genuinely close to a Tram stop. If you are carrying luggage, travelling late or your final hotel is several blocks inland, a taxi from the Red Line station can be the lower-friction choice.
BEST FOR OLD DUBAI, DEIRA & CREEK DAYS
Old Dubai: start by thinking Green Line, not Red Line
The more useful line for Al Fahidi, Al Ghubaiba, Deira, the Gold Souq and Creek-side plans.
The Green Line serves much of the historic and creek-side Dubai visitors actually want to explore: Bur Dubai, Al Fahidi, Al Ghubaiba, Baniyas Square, Salah Al Din, Gold Souq and Creek. If you are coming from a Red Line hotel, use Union or BurJuman to change line rather than attempting an unnecessary taxi across the city.
How to choose between Union and BurJuman+
Choose the interchange that keeps you moving in the right direction with the fewest extra stops. Use the live planner if you are unfamiliar with the line, travelling with children or aiming for a timed tour. There is no prize for a clever-looking route that adds a difficult interchange.
BEST FOR IBN BATTUTA, FURJAN & EXPO CITY
Expo side: read the destination board before you board
The Red Line has an operational split south of the Marina/Jebel Ali corridor — destination signs matter.
The Red Line runs between centrepoint and Expo 2020 / Life Pharmacy, with the southern route serving places including Ibn Battuta, The Gardens, Discovery Gardens, Al Furjan, Jumeirah Golf Estates, Dubai Investment Park and Expo 2020. Confirm the train destination on the platform before boarding: a Red Line train that is heading to Life Pharmacy may not take you to Expo City.
What to do if you boarded the wrong southern branch+
Stay calm and re-plan from the next appropriate interchange/connection point using S’hail or the RTA Journey Planner. Do not assume every train will continue to your intended terminal. The correct move is governed by the train’s displayed destination and the live timetable.
FARES & NOL CARDS
Buy the right card, then tap in and tap out
Dubai Metro is cashless at the gate. Fares are calculated by zones, so the useful choice is normally between a Red Ticket for a short visit, a Silver card for regular standard-class travel, or Gold only when the premium cabin is worth it.
For a short stay: Red Ticket
A disposable paper ticket costing AED 2, reloadable for up to 10 journeys or five daily passes. Regular fares are AED 4 within one zone, AED 6 across two adjacent zones and AED 8.50 for more than two zones.
For most travellers: Silver nol
The standard smart card costs AED 25 including AED 19 balance. Current standard fares are AED 3 within one zone, AED 5 across two adjacent zones and AED 7.50 for more than two zones.
For Gold Class: Gold nol
The Gold card costs AED 25 including AED 19 balance. Gold Class on Metro and Tram is priced at double the regular fare; only use the Gold cabin with a valid Gold product.
For Metro + bus trips
RTA’s zone rules allow transfers across Metro and bus within 30 minutes to be treated as one journey, subject to the relevant zone and transfer rules.
For the gate: keep AED 7.50
RTA says you need a minimum balance of AED 7.50 to check in. Top up before a late train or an airport run, not when time is already tight.
For children and families
Children aged five and under travel free under RTA’s current fare table. Women-and-children cabins are designated cabins; general cabins are for all passengers.
MAP-AWARE PLANNER
Where the Metro actually helps most
The Metro network covers two main lines, not every part of the city. Use it as the high-speed spine, then connect deliberately.
DXB & Deira
Red Line for Terminal 1, Terminal 3, City Centre Deira, Al Rigga and Union. Ideal for airport-linked hotels and central Deira plans.
Open official map ↗Downtown, DIFC & Sheikh Zayed Road
Red Line for World Trade Centre, Emirates Towers, Financial Centre, Burj Khalifa / Dubai Mall and Business Bay. Check the last mile.
Plan the last mile ↗Marina, JBR & Palm Gateway
Red Line to Sobha Realty or DMCC, then Dubai Tram for the waterfront and Palm connection. Treat it as a two-mode journey.
Check Metro & Tram timing ↗Old Dubai & Creek
Green Line for Al Fahidi, Al Ghubaiba, Baniyas Square, Gold Souq and Creek. Union and BurJuman are the key line-change stations.
See Green Line stations ↗Expo City & southern communities
Red Line route to Expo 2020 or Life Pharmacy, with destinations south of the Marina corridor requiring attention to train displays.
See branch timetable ↗Areas better finished by taxi
Palm villas, beach clubs, sprawling resort areas, villa communities and destinations far from a station may be better served by taxi for the final leg.
Compare the route ↗BEFORE YOU BOARD
The 60-second Metro check
1. Check the exact destination display
Especially southbound on the Red Line. “Red Line” alone is not enough if you need Expo 2020 rather than Life Pharmacy.
2. Tap in — then tap out
Keep your nol card ready at both gates. Fares are zone-based, so failing to complete the journey correctly can create avoidable trouble.
3. Use the correct cabin
Gold Class requires the appropriate Gold product; women-and-children cabins are designated for that group. Check the platform markings before entering.
4. Check the last train at your station
For late nights, do not rely on the headline “open until” time. Use RTA’s direction-specific timetable or S’hail for the actual departure you need.
5. Plan the final 10 minutes
Stations can involve bridges, long concourses or large malls. Your route is only as good as the connection after you leave the platform.
6. Be prepared for rules and fines
RTA lists fines for issues including fare non-payment, using the wrong designated cabin, eating or drinking where prohibited, and carrying alcohol or hazardous items.
COMFORT, ACCESSIBILITY & ETIQUETTE
Good Metro habits make a big difference
Accessibility
RTA describes tactile guidance paths, platform alerts, lift access at all Metro station levels and dedicated wheelchair spaces on trains.
Luggage
RTA allows two suitcases per passenger within stated dimensions. Keep luggage in the dedicated cabin area and do not block access or doorways.
Platform etiquette
Let passengers off first, move along the platform and into the cabin, respect space and give priority to those who need it.
Onboard practicalities
RTA states that the network has Wi‑Fi access and mobile phone coverage. Use the journey time to recheck your final walking route.
Don’t board casually
Do not eat or drink where prohibited, sit in the wrong cabin, leave bags in the way or assume inspectors are not checking fares.
Children travelling
RTA’s current policy says children below eight should not travel on public transport without an adult; children aged 12+ may travel unaccompanied.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Dubai Metro timings and route FAQs
What time does Dubai Metro open and close?+
What time is the last Dubai Metro train?+
Does Dubai Metro go to Dubai Airport?+
Does Dubai Metro go to Dubai Mall?+
Does Dubai Metro go to Palm Jumeirah?+
How much is the Dubai Metro?+
Can I pay cash on Dubai Metro?+
Are children free on Dubai Metro?+
SOURCES & VERIFICATION
How this guide is kept accurate
Last checked: 1 July 2026. We used RTA’s regular Metro timetable, detailed direction-specific timetable, official rail network map, current nol fare table, nol product pages and Metro rules/accessibility guidance. Public-transport service can change for holidays, planned works, weather or operational events.
This page deliberately separates station opening hours from the last train you can actually catch. Before a time-sensitive journey, check RTA’s detailed timetable, S’hail or the Journey Planner again on the day.
▶ See the detailed verification record
- RTA Metro & Tram Timetable: regular opening hours, Red/Green terminals and interchange stations.
- RTA detailed Metro/Tram timetable PDF: first and last services by station and direction.
- RTA Metro & Tram stations map: station names, Red/Green network and Tram connections.
- RTA nol fare table: Silver, Gold, Personal and Red Ticket zone fares; travel-pass products.
- RTA nol card pages: product pricing, minimum check-in balance and travel-card guidance.
- RTA About Dubai Metro: cabins, luggage, accessibility, etiquette and rules/fines.
- RTA S’hail/Journey Planner: final live route validation.
