Dubai's Metro has two lines, Red and Green, and a single trip costs from ~AED 3 (≈ US$0.80) on a Silver Nol card, rising with the number of zones you cross. Trains run from about 05:00 to midnight – until 01:00 on Friday nights and from 08:00 on Sundays – and tourists ride with a rechargeable Nol card or a paper Red Ticket. At Dubai International Airport, the Red Line stops at Terminals 1 and 3 only.
How much does the Dubai Metro cost?
A Dubai Metro single trip costs ~AED 3, ~AED 5 or ~AED 7.50 on a Silver Nol card, for one zone (under 3 km), two zones or three or more, according to RTA's published Nol fares; RTA can revise them, so confirm the current fare on rta.ae. The paper Red Ticket costs more per trip, and Gold class costs double.
| Single trip | 1 zone (under 3 km) | 2 zones | 3 or more zones |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silver Nol card | ~AED 3 | ~AED 5 | ~AED 7.50 |
| Red Ticket | ~AED 4 | ~AED 6 | ~AED 8.50 |
| Gold Nol card | ~AED 6 | ~AED 10 | ~AED 15 |
| Gold Red Ticket | ~AED 8 | ~AED 12 | ~AED 17 |
A Silver Nol card costs ~AED 25 (≈ US$6.80), including ~AED 19 of travel credit, and gives the cheapest fare per trip. A Gold card costs the same and pays the Gold fares. Either card needs ~AED 7.50 or more on it – the top Silver fare – to start a trip, so top it up before the balance drops below that.
The paper Red Ticket costs ~AED 2 to issue and holds up to 10 trips, each charged at the Red Ticket fare – ~AED 1 more than Silver on every trip. A Red Ticket day pass costs ~AED 20 (≈ US$5.50), or ~AED 40 in Gold.
The arithmetic is simple. The Silver card costs ~AED 6 more than the credit it carries, against the Red Ticket's ~AED 2 issue fee plus ~AED 1 extra a trip, so from the fifth trip the Silver card is cheaper, as long as you spend the credit. The day pass beats single Red Ticket fares on the third trip of three or more zones in a day.
For what local transport adds to a whole trip, see our Dubai trip cost breakdown.
Can tourists use the Dubai Metro?
Yes – tourists ride the Dubai Metro on the same tickets as residents: a paper Red Ticket, which needs no registration, or a Silver or Gold Nol card, according to RTA's "About Nol Card" page. Both are sold at Metro stations.
You pass the ticket or card over the gate on the way in and on the way out, and the gate charges by the number of zones you travelled. The same Nol card also pays for Dubai's buses and the Dubai Tram.
Buy a Red Ticket for a short stay with a handful of rides, and a Silver card for a week of daily ones – on the fares above, the card wins from the fifth trip. Gold class is optional.
What are the Dubai Metro opening hours?
The Dubai Metro is not open 24 hours. Trains run from about 05:00 until about midnight, according to RTA's timetable. Friday nights run later, and Sunday starts later – with no trains until the morning, so getting to an early Sunday flight means a taxi.
Hours also change on public holidays and for big events, so check RTA's service updates (rta.ae) for the exact times before you travel. We don't quote train frequency, because RTA adjusts it often.
Which Dubai Metro stations do tourists use?
The Dubai Metro map is simple: two lines, Red and Green. The Red Line connects the airport, Downtown and the Marina side, and the Green Line serves Old Dubai. RTA counts 53 stations, and the lines meet at two interchanges, Union and BurJuman.
| Station | Line | Why tourists use it |
|---|---|---|
| DXB Terminal 3 (R13) | Red | Dubai International Airport, Terminal 3 |
| DXB Terminal 1 (R14) | Red | Dubai International Airport, Terminal 1 |
| Al Garhoud (GGICO) | Red | Airport-area hotels, some 500–610 m away |
| Union | Red and Green | Change between the lines |
| BurJuman | Red and Green | Change between the lines |
| Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall | Red | Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall, by an air-conditioned walkway |
| Sobha Realty | Red | Dubai Tram to Dubai Marina and JBR |
| DMCC | Red | Dubai Tram to Dubai Marina and JBR |
| Jumeirah Golf Estates | Red | Etihad Rail's Dubai station for Abu Dhabi |
Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall is the station for the city's headline sight: the walkway brings you into the mall at the foot of the tower – our Burj Khalifa ticket guide explains which time slot to book.
A hotel within walking distance of a Red Line station makes the Metro the easy default. In Downtown, that means the hotels around Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall – see the best hotels in Downtown Dubai. On the Marina side the Tram covers the last stretch, so compare Dubai Marina and JBR hotels. Our guide to where to stay in Dubai marks which areas have the Metro.
How do you get from Dubai Airport by Metro?
The Red Line reaches Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall in about 24 minutes from Terminal 1 and 26 minutes from Terminal 3, computed from RTA's timetable. That trip crosses two zones, so it costs ~AED 5 (≈ US$1.40) on a Silver card or ~AED 6 on a Red Ticket.
For the Marina side, allow 48–52 minutes to Sobha Realty or DMCC, then walk or take the Tram. That's three or more zones: ~AED 7.50 on a Silver card or ~AED 8.50 on a Red Ticket. With more than two bags, read the luggage rule below before you board.
How do the Tram, Monorail and Etihad Rail connect?
The Dubai Tram links Dubai Marina and JBR to the Red Line at DMCC and Sobha Realty, and it takes the same Nol card as the Metro.
The Metro doesn't go onto Palm Jumeirah: the Palm Monorail runs from Palm Gateway, which links to the Dubai Tram, up the island to Atlantis. Our guide to the best hotels on Palm Jumeirah covers the Monorail and the resorts along it.
Etihad Rail's Dubai station, Al Yalayis, sits opposite Jumeirah Golf Estates Metro station, linked by a 400 m elevated walkway (The National). Our guide to the Dubai to Abu Dhabi train covers the fares, timings and booking.
What are the rules on the Dubai Metro?
RTA fines ~AED 100 (≈ US$27) for each of the Metro's main offences, according to its published rules (fines can change, so check rta.ae):
| Rule | Fine |
|---|---|
| Riding in the wrong cabin – the women-and-children cabin, or the Gold cabin without a Gold fare | ~AED 100 |
| Eating, drinking or chewing gum | ~AED 100 |
| Putting your feet on the seats | ~AED 100 |
The women-and-children cabin is for women and children only, so men should stay out of it. Luggage is limited to two pieces per passenger, according to Dubai Airports. We found no current RTA rule on folding bikes, e-scooters or photography, so check with RTA before you bring a bike or scooter aboard.
For the wider rules on alcohol, dress and behaviour in public, see Dubai's rules for tourists.
What are the Blue Line and Gold Line?
The Blue Line is under construction: 30 km and 14 stations, planned to open around the end of this decade, according to RTA.
The Gold Line has been approved: 42 km and 18 stations, planned for the early 2030s, according to RTA.
Neither line is open yet, so for a trip in the next few years the Metro is the Red and Green lines above.
For most visitors, a Silver Nol card and the Red Line cover the airport, Downtown and the Marina side for a few dirhams a trip.
To plan the days around the stations, follow our 3-day Dubai itinerary or browse things to do in Dubai. For an evening out, Global Village has no Metro station, but seasonal RTA buses run there from Union, among other stops.
Featured image: Shahroozporia / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Wikimedia Commons
