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Dubai Metro Comprehensive Guide, Map, Route, Ticket & Timings 2023

Written by Lawrence

You will need to ride the Dubai Metro for many reasons, including the desire to escape from the traffic and transportation, or the desire to reduce the cost of expenses, or the pleasure of experiencing the largest metro in the world, and enjoying a panoramic view of Dubai.

Perhaps the most impressive thing about the Dubai Metro is that it operates without a driver, and is characterized by its length of 74.6 km, and passes through 49 stations, 9 of which are located underground.

The metro stations are distributed on two tracks and cover many places in the city: the green line and the red line.

The two lines meet at Union Station and Burjuman Station so that passengers can transfer between these two lanes. Dubai Metro stations are also linked to a wide network of other means of transportation such as taxis and buses.

To find out how to use the metro on your own, read our comprehensive guide, and follow all the steps.

How to use Dubai Metro (Plan a trip)

Decide where you want to go

Then select the nearest station to your residence.

And select the nearest station to the place you want to get to: for example, if you want to get to Buy Any Insurance Company in Damac Smart Heights, Al Barsha, you must stop at the Dubai Internet City station , then take a taxi to reach the center. Or if you want to go to Mall of the Emirates or Burj Khalifa, you must stop at Mall of the Emirates station or Burj Khalifa station.

On the way back you have to go back to the same station but using the opposite direction of the metro.

Caution: To confirm the route of the train you must take, you can ask anyone at the station and they will guide you, or ask any employee working in the metro.

Free parking at stations

You can park your car in 3 huge stations and use the metro, and these parking spaces are free –

  • Rashidiya is on the red line
  • Al Nakheel Harbor and Tower is also on the red line
  • Communications on the green line 

Dubai metro timings

  • Monday – Thursday: 05:00 in the morning until 12:00 at night.
  • Friday: from 05:00 in the morning until 01:00 in the afternoon.
  • Saturday: from 05:00 in the morning until 12:00 at night.
  • Sunday: from 08:00 in the morning until 12:00 at night.
  • Attention: These dates may vary in national and official holidays and events

Booking taxi to and from Dubai metro stations

  • Dubai Taxi: 2080808
  • Metro Taxi: 2673222
  • National Taxi: 43274666
  • Arabia Taxi: 2855111
  • Cars Taxi: 2692900
  • Ladies Taxi: 2080808

Dubai metro tickets

You cannot pay cash to ride the Dubai Metro, but you must buy a Nol card, which is of four types that meet the needs of all passengers.

You should go to the nearest ticketing center to get a Nol card and recharge it. These centers are located in the 27 open stations.

Dubai Metro Guides
Nol Cards for Dubai Metro

The Nol card can be used in all public transportation and to pay parking fees as well.

Types of Nol Cards

  1. Nol Gold Card (First Class Ride)

  • Valid for 5 years.
  • Fill it with a balance of up to 500 dirhams
  • You can use it for all transportation services
  • Ride in the golden compartment of the metro
  • Its price: 20 dirhams, its balance: 14 dirhams

  1. Nol Silver Card (for regular passengers)

  • Valid for 5 years.
  • Fill it with a balance of up to 500 dirhams.
  • You can use it for all transportation services.
  • Its price: 20 dirhams, its balance: 14 dirhams

  1.  Nol Blue Card (a secure personal card for regular passengers)

  • Unlimited navigation for 30 days
  • The card bears a picture of the owner
  • Discount for students and senior citizens and residents who use the electronic wallet
  • Safe electronic services to recharge the balance
  • Additional services like loyalty points and auto top-up
  • Its price: 70 dirhams, its balance: 20 dirhams

  1. Nol Red Ticket (for tourists and visitors)

  • Paper ticket
  • It can be recharged for 10 trips or up to 5 days
  • It can be used for metro as well as buses
  • It must be purchased at the correct pre-paid value as per the flight plan.
  • Its price: 2 dirham

Please Note – Children under the age of 5 years or less than 90 cm tall can use the Dubai Metro for free. 

Dubai Metro Red Line Stations

The stations on the Red Line are –

  • Centrepoint (formerly known as Rashidiya)
  • Fly Emirates
  • Airport Terminal 3
  • Airport Terminal 1
  • GGICO
  • Deira City Centre
  • Al Rigga
  •  Union (Transfer station)
  • BurJuman (Transfer station)
  • ABCD (formerly Al Karama)
  • Max (formerly Al Jafiliya)
  • World Trade Center
  • Emirates towers
  • Financial Center
  • Burj Khalifa / Dubai Mall
  • Business Bay
  • Al Safa (formerly Noor Islamic Bank)
  • Equiti (formerly Umm Al Sheif and First Abu Dhabi Bank)
  • Mall of the Emirates
  • Mashreq (formerly Sharaf DG)
  • Dubai Internet City
  • Al Khail (formerly Nakheel)
  • SOBHA Realty (formerly Dubai Marina)
  • DMCC (formerly Jumeriah Lake Towers)
  • Jabal Ali (formerly Nakheel Harbor and Tower)
  • The Gardens
  • Discovery Gardens
  • Al Furjan
  • Jumeirah Golf Course
  • Dubai Investment Park
  • Expo 2020

Dubai Metro Green Line Stations

The stations on the Green Line are –

  • Etisalat
  • Al Qusais
  • Dubai Airport Free Zone
  • Al Nahda
  • Stadium
  • Al Qiyadah
  • Au Hail
  • Abu Baker Al Siddiqui
  • Salah Al Din
  • Union (Transfer station)
  • Baniyas Square
  • Gold Souq (formerly Palm Deriah)
  • Al Ras
  • Al Ghubaiba
  • Sharaf DG (formerly Al Fahidi)
  • BurJuman (Transfer station)
  • Oud Metha
  • Dubai Healthcare City
  • Al Jadaf
  • Creek 

Dubai metro cabins

What should you know about Dubai Metro private cabins? There are two private cabins, one for women and children only. The second cabin is the golden cabin, which is reserved for passengers who hold a Nol Gold card. It has comfortable leather seats and a charming panoramic view of Dubai.

How to find the golden cabin?

The Golden Cabin is at the front of the train if you are going towards Jebel Ali and at the back of the metro if you are going towards Rashidiya

How do you connect to the internet while you are in Dubai metro?

  • Search for Wi-Fi networks, and select the DU network.
  • Open your internet browser and choose the package that suits you best.
  • Internet connection costs 10 dirhams per hour or less if you have a credit car

Information about Dubai Metro

  • The construction cost of the Dubai Metro amounted to 28 billion dirhams.
  • Japanese companies have redesigned the metro, including Mitsubishi.
  • In 2011, it set a Guinness World Record for the longest driverless train in the world.
  • There are 79 metro trains, each with a capacity of 650 passengers.
  • Facilities for people of determination.
  • You can take two bags, one small (55 * 38 * 20 cm) and one large (81 * 58 * 30 cm).
  • There are more than 3,000 surveillance cameras in trains and stations.
  • There are special police units.
  • A built-in wireless system that connects the metro with the emergency units.
  • An emergency call box in all trains and stations.

Fines in Dubai Metro

Fines of 100 dirhams

You will pay an amount of 100 dirhams if you act according to the following wrong behaviors –

  •  In the event that you disturb the passengers of public transportation
  • Sitting in places designated for certain groups that you are not entitled to
  • Putting feet on the seats
  • Eating or drinking in places where eating is prohibited
  • Improper use of elevators or electric walkways
  • Climbing or jumping on public transportation facilities and services
  • Using public transportation and its facilities in violation of the instructions of the Roads and Transport Authority
  • Entering any part of public transportation or its facilities despite the presence of prohibition or warning signs
  • Accompanying animals, except for guide dogs accompanying blind people
  • Carrying or using materials or equipment that may cause inconvenience to passengers
  • Park your car at train stops for more than 24 hours

Note – Your personal card will be kept with the Revenue Protection Supervisor if you committed a violation and could not pay its value immediately.

You can pay the fine at a later time at any station, but you will only be able to collect your ID from the Terminal 1 station.

Violations of 200 dirhams

  • Using public transportation without paying the specified fare
  • Using a personal Nol card assigned to another person
  • Non-compliance with the instructions of the authority’s inspectors or persons authorized by it, or obstructing their work
  • Not showing the unified card upon request
  • Use of an expired card
  • Selling the unified card without permission from the Authority
  • Smoking, littering, spitting, or any other behavior that pollutes public transportation and its attachments
  • Carrying dangerous materials inside public transport and its attachments
  • Carrying alcoholic beverages
  • Selling goods or commodities inside public transport and its attachments
  • Distracting the driver

Violations of 250 dirhams

  • Parking of vehicles in stops designated for train users for more than 48 hours

Violations of 300 dirhams

  • Sleeping in waiting halls, or anywhere else within the campus of public transportation facilities

Violations of 500 dirhams

  • Using a fake Nol card
  • Destroying, sabotaging, or tampering with devices, equipment, or seats of public transport and its facilities

Violations up to 2000 dirhams

  • Operating or using a means or device for security and safety, including emergency exits, in cases other than necessity.

The modern city of Dubai provides you with transportation in the city using multiple means of transportation, such as buses, taxis, and renting a car with or without a driver, but moving around the Dubai metro has its own pleasure, especially since its cost is cheap. You can also download an assistive application such as the Dubai Metro application or the S’hail Dubai application to plan your trip and monitor its route.

 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

  1. What are the prices in Dubai metro?

You cannot pay cash to ride the Dubai Metro, you must purchase a Nol card. Nol Gold Card: 20 dirhams, Silver ticket: 20 dirhams, Blue ticket: 70 dirhams, Red ticket: 2 dirhams only.

The cost of the trip when the metro exceeds two areas for the silver card: 5.80 dirhams, for the gold card: 11.60 dirhams, for the blue card: 5.80 dirhams, and for the red ticket, prices start from: 6.50 dirhams

  1. How many lines are there in Dubai metro?

Metro stations are divided into two lines – Red Line and Green Line.

  1. How to get Dubai metro subscription?

You should go to the nearest ticket sales center to obtain a Nol card and refill its balance. These centers are located in the 27 open stations. The Nol card can be used in all means of public transportation and to pay parking fees as well.

  1. What are the operating hours of Dubai metro?

Monday – Thursday: 05:00 am to 12:00 pm, Friday: 05:00 am to 01:00 am, Saturday: 05:00 am to 12:00 pm, Sunday: 08:00 am to 01:00 am 12:00 at night. 


Originally published Dec 09, 2022 10:59:20 AM, updated Dec 09, 2022

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