Dubai Metro

The Dubai Metro is the backbone of public transport in the emirate: two driverless lines today, two more under construction, 55 stations by current RTA naming, and fares from AED 3 per journey. This page is the network overview – what exists, what is coming, and where to find timings, the map, fares and every station guide on this site.

What runs today

Two lines share identical operating hours and the same Nol fare system:

  • Red Line – 35 stations from Centrepoint (airport end) through Downtown and the Marina to Expo 2020 and the Life Pharmacy branch. Includes DXB Terminals 1 and 3.
  • Green Line – 20 stations from e& through Deira’s souq circuit to Creek. The old-Dubai loop most tourists miss.

They meet at Union and BurJuman – the only two-station interchanges where you change trains without tapping out. Every other “connection” on the map is a single continuous journey on one line.

Network at a glance (July 2026, RTA-verified)
Measure Figure Note
Operational stations 55 35 Red + 20 Green; Union and BurJuman counted once each per line
Distinct physical stations 53 Interchanges share one platform pair
Track length ~90 km Red 67.1 km + Green 22.5 km
Daily riders ~1 million Metro = ~40% of Dubai public transport (DMO, 2026)
Fare (Silver Nol) AED 3 / 5 / 7.50 1 / 2 / 3+ zones; daily cap AED 14
Peak frequency 2-4 min Off-peak 5-7 min; identical on both lines

Why station counts differ online

You will see 47, 55, 67 or 120 km quoted in different places. All are defensible depending on what you count:

  • 55 = Red (35) + Green (20) with interchanges counted on both lines – our default.
  • 53 = distinct physical stations (Union and BurJuman once each).
  • 67 = media figure treating Route 2020 as a separate line and counting interchanges differently.

We explain the full breakdown on the map page – the only honest answer is to show your working.

What’s being built

Blue Line – opens 9 September 2029

14 stations, 30 km, Y-shaped: a Creek branch through Dubai Creek Harbour and a Centrepoint branch through Mirdif, merging at International City 1 (designed as the network’s largest underground interchange). Construction was ~30% complete mid-2026. Full tracker: Blue Line page.

Gold Line – opens 9 September 2032

AED 34 billion, 42 km, 18 fully underground stations from Al Ghubaiba to Jumeirah Golf Estates. RTA has not published station names – only route corridors and interchange points. Live tender tracker (bids due August 2026): Gold Line page.

How to use the metro (60-second version)

  1. Buy a Silver Nol card at any station machine (AED 25, AED 19 credit included).
  2. Tap in at the gate; tap out at exit – forgetting costs the maximum fare.
  3. Board the train showing your direction on the platform screen (terminus name, not “north/south”).
  4. Regular cabin unless you hold a Gold card or are using the Women & Children cabin (rules on the first-time guide).

Operating hours: Mon-Thu and Sat 5:00 AM-midnight, Fri 5:00 AM-1:00 AM, Sun 8:00 AM-midnight. Full table and myth-busters: timings page.

Quick links – every money question answered

Arabic

Full Arabic versions of the six money pages plus two guides live under /ar/ – مواعيد، خريطة، أسعار، مخالفات، مناطق، أسئلة شائعة.

Last verified against RTA sources July 2026. Unofficial guide – for live service updates use the RTA S’hail app.