A Guide to Using the Dubai Metro | ExpatWoman.com
 

A Guide to Using the Dubai Metro

The Dubai Metro launched in September 2009 and has been used by over a million people! It is a great service for residents and tourists alike… you can use it for shopping trips, sightseeing trips and commuting all over Dubai.

Posted on

7 January 2013

Last updated on 14 January 2020
A Guide to Using the Dubai Metro

Below is all the information you need about using the metro, from where the stations are, to how to buy a ticket - so get on the metro to experience something new, reduce your carbon footprint or just to relax from the pressure of driving!


News


Extension of Metro Red Line

The Dubai Metro red line has began its expansion, which has been endorsed by His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

The route will expand from Nakheel Harbour station to the Expo 2020 site, located near Al Maktoum International Airport, with 5 upcoming stations that are said to have futuristic aircraft-inspired design and will measure to 14.5 km long. 

Extension of Metro Green Line

Abdul Mohsen Ibrahim Younes, CEO of Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority (RTA) has said that Dubai Metro Green line extension will commence in 2017, and will begin from Al Jaddaf area and end in Academic City.

The 20.6 km extension is set to create new advancements in areas such as Ras Al Khor industrial area, International City and Silicon Oasis, and will feature a rail line, in addition to 11 stations both above and underground.

The route is said to be ready before 2020, where the Expo 2020 Dubai is set to take place. 


The Stations

The Red Line runs from Rashidiya to Jebel Ali and the Green Line will run from Al Qusais to Dubai Creek. There are 29 stations on the Red Line, of which the remaining three stations will be opened on the next phase. There are 20 stations on the Green Line, of which the two remaining stations will be opened on the next phase.

Red Line

  • Rashidiya (Depot)
  • Emirates
  • Airport Terminal 3
  • Airport Terminal 1
  • GGICO
  • Deira City Centre
  • Al Rigga
  • Union Station (transfer to Green Line)
  • BurJuman (transfer to Green Line)
  • Al Karama
  • Al Jafiliya
  • World Trade Centre
  • Emirates Towers
  • Financial Centre
  • Dubai Mall/Burj Khalifa
  • Business Bay
  • Noor Islamic Bank
  • First Gulf Bank
  • Mall of the Emirates
  • Sharaf DG
  • Dubai Internet City
  • Nakheel
  • Dubai Marina
  • Jumeirah Lake Towers
  • Nakheel Harbor and Tower
  • Ibn Battuta
  • Energy
  • Danube
  • Jebel Ali (Depot)

Green Line

  • Etisalat (Depot)
  • Al Qusais 1
  • Airport Free Zone
  • Al Nahda
  • Rashid Stadium
  • Al Qiyadah
  • Abu Hail
  • Abu Bakr Seddiq
  • Salahuddin
  • Union Square (transfer to Red Line)
  • Baniyas Square
  • Palm Deira
  • Al Ras
  • Al Ghubaiba
  • Al Fahidi
  • Burjuman (transfer to Red Line)
  • Oud Metha
  • Healthcare City
  • Al Jaddaf
  • Creek
 

About the Trains

Trains run from 5:30 am to 12:00 am, Saturday to Wednesday and from 5:30 am to 1:00 am on Thursdays and 10:00 am to 1:00 am on Fridays. During Ramadan, train times are from 6am to midnight, Saturday to Thursday and 2pm to midnight on Fridays.

There is a dedicated compartment for ladies and children only, but ladies can also travel in other compartments on the train.

Metro passengers will not have to wait for trains for a long time as the train will arrive at a station with an interval of initially 10 minutes. However, the train headway will be reduced to three to four minutes during peak hours by 2010.

The train doors are synchronised with the platform glass screen doors and they will remain open from 15 to 20 seconds and the time can be extended during peak hours.
 

Dubai Metro Times
 

General Facilities

Car parking for Dubai Metro users will be free at the three designated parking lots including one each at Al Rashidiya, Al Qusais and Nakheel Harbour and Tower Stations. Parking at these parking lots will be Dh10 per hour and Dh50 per day for those not using the Metro. Roadside parking in paid parking zones is not free.

Bicycles and big luggage are not allowed inside the trains.

There are pick up and drop off areas for passengers at every station.

Taxis are available at all the stations. The RTA has built special taxi ranks at every station.

Dubai Metro stations have been designed serve as mini shopping centre as they have food outlets, convenience stores, airline booking and travel offices, ATMs and even bank counters. There will also be vending machines for soft drinks, newspapers and Metro tickets/cards.

There will be WiFi internet access and mobile phone coverage through the Metro track and stations including the underground parts of the Metro.

All the stations have washroom / toilet facilities for the public and special needs people.


You might also be interested in...

Nol Card

Nol Card is a smart card that enables you to pay for the use of various RTA transport modes in Dubai with a single card. You can use your Nol Card to travel on Dubai's Metro, Buses, Water Buses, as well as pay for RTA's Paid Parking. Cash will not be accepted for payment to use Metro, Buses and Water Buses.

Fares for the Dubai Metro range from a minimum Dh1.8 to a maximum Dh6.5 for a single journey, depending on the distance covered. The passengers will be able to use public buses and the metro with the same fare to complete their journey.

Children up to five-year-old and up to 90 cm tall can travel free of charge. People with special needs, the elderly and senior citizens (60 years and above) and students will receive special discounted fares.

To find out more about NOL Cards, visit >>


SEE ALSO: Discover Dubai

Zone Fares & Times

The city of Dubai is divided into 7 zones in terms of transport. Each zone contains all transport types - metro, buses, water taxis - and your journey is calculated dependent on the total number of zones you have passed. Please see below for a rough guide to NOL zonal fares:

NOL Card zone fares Dubai Metro RTA
 

Here are some estimated journey times between popular sites across the city...

Red Line:

  • Ibn Battuta to Dubai Mall/Burj Khalifa: 38 minutes
  • Jumeirah Lake Towers to Mall of the Emirates: 14 minutes
  • Mall of the Emirates to Dubai Mall/Burj Khalifa: 17 minutes
  • Jebel Ali (Depot) to Rashidiya (Depot): 85 minutes
  • Dubai Internet City to Deira City Centre: 45 minutes

Green Line:

  • Creek to Abu Bakr Seddiq: 26 minutes
  • Al Ras to Al Qusais: 23 minutes
  • Creek to Etisalat: 43 minutes
  • Al Fahidi to Airport Free Zone: 25 minutes

Red and Green Line:

  • Dubai Mall/Burj Khalifa to Airport Free Zone: 31 minutes, with change at Union Square
  • Oud Metha to Airport Terminal 3: 17 minutes, with change at Union Square
  • Al Jaffiliya to Palm Deira: 11 minutes, with change at Union Square
  • Palm Deira to Nakheel: 48 minutes, with change at Khalid Bin Al Waleed

Feeder Buses

A feeder bus service is dedicated to feeding Dubai Metro stations, enabling passengers to reach the stations from the nearby communities. Its route number starts with the letter ‘F’.

Almost every metro station is served with feeder buses, which will carry passengers to communities around the stations. Buses are available every 10 minutes on every station. Electronic boards inside the stations will be used to inform passengers about the arrival and departure of buses.
 

Park and Ride Stations

Red line
• Car park with 3,000 spaces at Nakheel Harbour and Tower station
• Car park with 2,714 spaces at Rashidiya station
• There will be small car parks at every station

Green Line
• Car park with 6,500 spaces at Etisalat station (will cater to users from Sharjah)
• There will be small car parks at every station

Parking fees
• Parking is free for people using the metro
• Car park validation uses the same card as metro fares
• Parking fees for people not using the metro: 10 Dhs per hour, 50 Dhs per day

Mall parking
• Two malls near metro stations will have parking fees - Mall of Emirates and Deira City Centre
• The fees are intended to deter Metro commuters from using the malls´ car parks as part of an unofficial park-and-ride system
• New fees have started on October 4, 2009.
     Weekdays: free up to 4 hours, 20 Dhs each additional hour after the four hours free.
     Weekends: free
• Bur Juman Centre already operates a 20 Dh-all day fee.

For more information see Dubai Metro's pocket brochure.


<< Back to your Guide to getting around Dubai

 
 

ON EXPATWOMAN TODAY