Ultimate Dubai Metro Guide: Tourists Cant Afford To Skip It!

Getting around in Dubai is really easy due to their elaborate public transportation system. Dubai metro, out of all, is the cheapest transportation option that will help you travel through Dubai very easily and on a budget.

Maximum touristy places to visit in Dubai are located nearby one of the Dubai Metro stations or are connected to them. In this blog, I will explain how you can travel by Dubai Metro without digging a hole in your pocket, making it one of the best budget-friendly trips to Dubai.

Dubai Metro

Dubai Metro Lines-

There are two Dubai Metro lines- Green & Red

Dubai Metro Green Line Stations List

Green line route- e& to Creek

e&
Al Qusais
Dubai Airport FZ
Al Nah Da
Stadium
Al Qiyadah
Abu Hall
Abu Baker Al Siddique
Salah Al Din
Union (connects to Red line Metro)
Baniyas Square
Gold Souq
Al Ras
Al Ghubaiba
Sharaf DG
Burjuman (connects to Red line Metro)
Oud Metha
Dubai Healthcare City
Al Jad Af
Creek

Dubai Metro Red Line Stations List

Red line routes- [Centerpoint to Expo 2020] [Centerpoint to UAE Exchange]

At Jabal Ali, two red routes go different ways.

Centerpoint
Emirates
Airport T3
Airport T1
GGICO
Deira City Center
Al Rigga
Union (connects to green line metro)
Burjuman (connects to green line metro)
ADCB
Max
World Trade Center
Emirates Towers
Financial Center
Burj Khalifa/ Dubai Mall
Business Bay
Onpassive
Umm Al Sheif
Mall of the Emirates
Insurance Market
Dubai Internet City
Al Khail
Sobha Realty (connects to Dubai Tram)
DMCC (connects to Dubai Tram)
Jabal Ali

To UAE Exchange (from Jabal Ali)

Ibn Battuta
Energy
Danube
UAE Exchange

To Expo 2020 (from Jabal Ali)

The Gardens
Discovery Gardens
Al Furjan
Jumeirah Golf Estates
Dubai Investment Park
Expo 2020

Note: Usually the red line is crowded and if you are traveling in the office hours, then it is very difficult to get into trains, as they are jam packed. If you want to go anywhere before Al Khail from Centerpoint, you can get on the train terminating at Al Khail, as they are less crowded. Both UAE Exchange and Expo 2020 trains are the long distance ones, hence the crowd.

Dubai Metro Timings (for all lines of Dubai Metro)

Monday to Thursday- 05:00 AM – 12:00 AM (Midnight)

Friday- 05:00 AM – 01:00 am (Next day)

Saturday- 05:00 AM – 12:00 AM (Midnight)

Sunday- 08:00 AM -12:00 AM (Midnight)

Buying Nol Cards of Dubai Metro

You can buy tickets at any ticket counter at any metro station. If you want to avoid queues and if you are going to travel by metro or any other public transportation more often, you can go for Nol cards.

These cards are extremely useful in terms of saving time for ticketing. You can redeem these cards for ANY public transportation in Dubai (metro, tram, abra- water taxi, monorail). You can use these cards to pay for parkings too!

You can also use these cards for payments at Nol merchants. There are more than 2000 stores in Dubai that accept payments through Nol cards.

There are three types of Nol cards-

Gold
Silver
Blue

Gold Nol Cards–

These cards can be used to travel through Gold class. Gold classes are more spacious, comfortable and luxurious. If you don’t have a gold card, you can be penalized if caught. Their fares are usually higher than the other cards. If you want to experience Luxury on Metro, you can go for these.

If you are using a transportation mode that does not have a gold class, then the general fare is debited from your card.

If you are going to use this card for a long time, then you can register your card and get a maximum recharge limit of 5000 AED. Otherwise, you can buy these cards anonymously just like how you buy your ticket.

Cost: 25 AED with AED 19 credit.

Maximum Recharge Limit:

Anonymous card- 1000 AED
Registered Card- 5000 AED

Validity: 5 years

Silver Nol Cards

Good for a frequent traveler. You can travel through the general class of Dubai Metro. Just like gold cards, you can use these cards for all the transportation in Dubai and for parking and Nol merchants.

Ensure, you are traveling through general compartments with these cards. If you are a male traveler, then ensure you are not getting on the compartments reserved for women and children.

Cost: 25 AED with AED 19 credit.

Maximum Recharge Limit:

Anonymous card- 1000 AED
Registered Card- 5000 AED

Blue Nol Cards

These cards are used by students or People of Determination or senior citizens. They get special concessions on their tickets.

What documents are needed to apply for blue Nol cards?

Students– Any valid document proving that the applicant is a student
People of Determination (Resident & tourist):
– Both sides copy of the Emirates ID

– Personal photograph with a white background.
– Both sides copy of the People of Determination Card or Sanad Card (Resident).
– Tourist POD card, or any document issued by the competent authorities in the country to which he belongs, proving that he is a person of determination.

Social Affairs Beneficiaries:

– Copy of the valid Emirates ID (front and back)
– Personal photograph with a white background
– An official and valid letter/document from the Community Development Authority stating that the customer is entitled for social assistance.

Senior Emiratis & senior expats (Senior Citizen)- Both sides copy of the valid Emirates ID

As a traveler you can apply for these cards, but it’s not recommended. These are useful for the residents and for long-stays. Instead you can go for silver or gold cards as you can buy them without registering any document.

Cost: 70 AED with 20 AED credit.

Maximum Recharge Limit: 5000 AED

Ref: RTA

How to top-up Nol cards?

There are many mobile apps powered by RTA that you can use to recharge your Nol card. Otherwise, you can use the ticketing kiosks to top up Nol cards for as low as 5 AED.

You can go to the ticketing counter for the same. But if your recharge is less than 50 AED, then you will have to go to the kiosks.

How to check Nol card balance?

It’s easy. As mentioned above, you can check your Nol balance in apps like S’hail, etc. Apart from this, whenever you tap your card at any station, your existing balance will be shown on the screen and the amount debited from the card for the journey will also be shown on the screen.

Things to keep in mind, when using Nol cards in Dubai

Very important– do not forget to tap in the card when you start your journey and tap out when you get out of the station. This helps to count the journey and to debit the subsequent amount. If you forget to tap the card, the maximum journey amount will be debited from your card.
If your bus journey is resumed in the 30 minutes span of your last metro journey, the bus journey becomes complimentary. Plan accordingly.
At metro stations, tapping the card is a no-brainer, because, without tapping the card, you cannot cross the checking gates. But, at the Tram station, it is important to tap your card at the orange kiosks on the station before you get on the tram and also after you get down.
The same goes for Abra ride. Abra rides cost 2 AED per person, if you just want to cross the water body.
For monorail, you can buy online tickets, or from the ticketing counters. For Nol cards, you can tap the cards on the machines with the assistants. They will provide the access. Ensure your card has a minimum balance of 20 AED when traveling by Monorail.
Your Nol card will not work, if your balance is less than 7 AED. (if you tapped in your card with the balance of 7 AED, and while tapping out, you get stuck, do not worry! You can go to the nearest ticket counter, recharge and then tap out the card again.)
You can return the Nol card (silver & gold), if you don’t need it anymore, and redeem the balance amount. But this process costs 5 AED per card. If your anonymous silver or gold card gets stolen, then you cannot claim the remaining balance.
Nol red tickets (individual tickets) are always a bit more expensive than the Silver Nol cards. Silver Nol card fares are at 30 percent discount.

Things to keep in mind while traveling by Dubai Metro

Eating and drinking is strictly prohibited in Dubai metro. Even water is not allowed to drink.
Smoking and chewing gums is prohibited in Dubai metro.
Keep and eye for designated areas reserved for women, children and gold class carriages.
Keep the surroundings clean and throw your garbage in the designated dustbins. Remember, everything you do wrong is subjected to heavy penalties. You don’t wanna take those additional charges on yourself.
Ensure respectful behaviour. This goes without saying that avoid listening to music or anything online in loud noise. Maintain a peaceful environment.
At every metro station, information about the bus routes and exits is written precisely on the boards. Ensure you refer to that, to save your time.

Dubai Bus

Buses have an elaborate network in Dubai. At every metro station, you will find a bus station, from where you can get information about the bus routes and schedules.

It’s quite impossible to write about all the bus routes, schedules and fares. For this, you can refer to the RTA site where bus routes along with maps are mentioned for easy understanding. You can download the maps in PDF formats that are given region-wise.

RTA bus routes

Dubai Tram

Keep these things in mind when traveling by the Dubai Tram.

I have mentioned the code of conduct on Dubai tram along with the penalties you are subjected to if you fail to obey.

Throwing anything on the tracks or obstructing the track is an offense- AED 500

Trying to enter unauthorized zones like driver’s compartment, etc- AED 1000

Do not cross the tracks from where it is not allowed- AED 1000

Anything that is hazardous for the tram’s safety or its infrastructure- AED 2000

Unauthorised interception of the tram on the tracks- AED 3000

Dubai Tram Route: Al Sufouh Road to Jumeirah Beach Road.

Stations list of Dubai Tram

Al Sufouh
Knowledge Village
Palm Jumeirah (connects Dubai Monorail)
Media City
Mina Seyahi (near to Dubai harbour)
Marina Towers
Dubai Marina (Connects to Red line Dubai Metro)
Dubai Marina Mall
Jumeirah Lake Towers
Jumeirah Beach Residence 2
Jumeirah Beach Residence 1

Dubai Tram Tickets– you can purchase the ticket at the counter or the vending machines or can use the Nol card for the same.

Dubai Tram ticket fare- minimum 3 AED/person (traveling within one zone) maximum 7.5 AED/person (traveling through 3 zones)

Dubai Tram Timings:

Monday to Saturday: 06:00 AM to 01:00 (Next Day)

Sunday : 09:00 AM to 01:00 (Next Day)

Dubai Monorail

Dubai Monorail is known as Palm Monorail and it’s a pure luxury on a public transport that you would experience. Palm monorail is a must thing to do in Dubai. Why? Because every station of this train is a tourist spot. If your itinerary allows, please consider giving Palm monorail a day to explore all the attractions en route.

Stations on Palm Monorail

There are only 4 stations on Palm Monorail. They Are as follows-

Palm Gateway
Al Ittihad Park
Nakheel Mall
Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark

Ticket Fare of Palm Monorail

It differs and depends on which station you board and what type of trip you are preferring (single/double).

Minimum ticket fare would be AED 5 per person for a single trip*

Maximum ticket fare for the round trip would go up to AED 30 per person.*

Time of The Palm Monorail

From Gateway	Monday – Sunday	9:00 AM	9:45 PM
From Atlantis	Monday – Sunday	9:15 AM	10:00 PM

Attractions on Palm Monorail

Al Ittihad Park-

Greenery lovers, mark your attendance!

Yes, this park is the green hub of Dubai with around 100 types of trees and plants. This park has a larger running track too.

If you are tired of Dubai’s scorching heat and want to get closer to nature and relax, pay a visit to this astonishing landmark! And it’s free! Don’t worry, you will find a coffee shop here too, in case you feel hungry after all that running you would do!

Palm West Beach

Sucker for a sunset? I have found you a gorgeous destination where you can watch one of the best sunsets of your life. The Palm West Beach. This beach has everything you need. Sunset, cafes, walking tracks, pet-friendly parks, musicals, events, and whatnot!

This beach is a 3 minutes walk away from Al Ittihad Park and again, it’s free to enter!

The Lost Chambers Aquarium

The one of a kind waterpark adventure for you near Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark monorail station. There are many theme parks available in Dubai, so what makes this one special?

In this waterpark you would enjoy adventurous water sports while you enjoy the marine life with more than 65000 marine species and some bewildering facts about their lives. Also, you can take underwater yoga sessions. Fascinating, isn’t it?

Time: Daily from 10:00am to 9:00pm.

Buy the ticket

Nakheel Mall

The mall is connected to the Monorail Station. This is where you can shop, eat or go for the astonishing views of Palm Jumeirah from the 52nd floor!

Trust me its all worth the money! If you are in the Nakheel mall, you must visit this observation deck. Its better to book tickets in advance, as it gets very crowded.

Buy the ticket

Day Passes for tourists

Day Pass With Unlimited Rides For AED 35: This is convenient for those travelers who want to visit all key destinations at the Palm Jumeirah via Monorail.

Family Pass For AED 99: Discounted rate for the family of 4 members which allows one return trip from the Palm Gateway to Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark. This would usually cost 120 AED but you get to save your money here!

*(depends on the boarding station and the arrival station)

Rules of Traveling Through Dubai Public Transport

Understand that Dubai is considered as a safe country, and there is a reason for it. It emphasises the discipline and the overall safety of its citizens. Make sure, you follow the rules and do not do anything that harasses others including yourself and your trip will be a breeze.

Use Case	Penalty
Misusing Nol cards or not tapping Nol cards/ Selling Nol Cards without prior permission from the Authority	AED 200
Using Counterfeit card	AED 500
Putting feet on the seats	AED 100
Selling and promoting anything in any way inside the public transport	AED 200
Using designated areas in the public transport without having access to it	AED 100
Damaging, vandalising or destroying any public transport property in any way	AED 2000
Dubai public transportation is not pet-friendly. Only service animals are allowed	AED 100
Spitting/littering/smoking/anything that hampers cleanliness	AED 200
Disturbing the driver of the public transportation	AED 200
Carrying Alcohol inside the public transportation	AED 500
Carrying hazardous items/weapons	AED 1000
Using emergency exists when not necessary	AED 2000