Airport Terminal 1 to Business Bay by Dubai Metro
Airport Terminal 1 to Business Bay is a direct Red Line ride - no train changes. Around 26 minutes, 12 stops, 2 zones, from AED 5.00 with a Silver Nol card.
Journey at a glance
~26 min
Fare (Silver Nol)
AED 5.00
Which train to board
Red Line At Airport Terminal 1, board the train towards Expo 2020 or Life Pharmacy (either service) - that is the destination shown on the platform screens and the train's front display. Ride 12 stops to Business Bay.
Station by station
| # | Station | Code | Zone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start | Airport Terminal 1 | R14 | 5 |
| 1 | Al Garhoud | R15 | 5 |
| 2 | City Centre Deira | R16 | 5 |
| 3 | Al Rigga | R17 | 5 |
| 4 | Union | R18/G20 | 5 |
| 5 | BurJuman | R19/G26 | 6 |
| 6 | ADCB | R20 | 6 |
| 7 | Max | R21 | 6 |
| 8 | World Trade Centre | R22 | 6 |
| 9 | Emirates Towers | R23 | 6 |
| 10 | Financial Centre | R24 | 6 |
| 11 | Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall | R25 | 6 |
| End | Business Bay | R26 | 6 |
What this journey costs
| Card / ticket | Fare |
|---|---|
| Silver Nol / Blue (personal) | AED 5.00 |
| Gold Class (front cabin) | AED 10.00 |
| Red Ticket (standard) | AED 6.00 |
| Red Ticket (Gold) | AED 12.00 |
Regular travel on a Silver or Blue Nol card stops charging at the AED 14 daily cap - if you make this trip both ways plus another journey in one day, the cap usually kicks in. Details on the fares page, myths included.
First and last trains for this route
Stations open at 5:00 AM (Sunday 8:00 AM), and first trains dispatch from several points along each line at once - so your first departure from Airport Terminal 1 is within roughly ten minutes of opening. We publish estimates, not invented per-minute times: check the station screens or the S'hail app for the exact next train.
For the last train, work backwards from closing: this journey takes about 26 minutes, so be through the gates at Airport Terminal 1 by around 11:19 PM on Monday-Sunday nights, or 12:19 AM on Friday nights (later close). Full table on the timings page.
Coming back?
The reverse trip is the same fare and time: Business Bay to Airport Terminal 1 route guide.
More routes from Airport Terminal 1
- Airport Terminal 1 to Airport Terminal 3
- Airport Terminal 1 to Centrepoint
- Airport Terminal 1 to City Centre Deira
- Airport Terminal 1 to Al Rigga
- Airport Terminal 1 to Union
- Airport Terminal 1 to BurJuman
Or price any station pair instantly with the fare calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Is the metro from Airport Terminal 1 to Business Bay direct?
Yes - it is a direct Red Line journey with no train changes. Board towards Expo 2020 or Life Pharmacy (either service) and ride 12 stops.
How long does Airport Terminal 1 to Business Bay take on the metro?
About 26 minutes for the 12-stop journey. Trains run every 2-4 minutes at peak times and every 5-7 minutes off-peak, so waiting time barely changes the total.
How much does this journey cost?
AED 5.00 with a Silver or Blue Nol card (2 zones), AED 10.00 in Gold Class, and AED 6.00 on a paper Red Ticket. Cash is not accepted on board - buy or top up a card first.
When is the last metro from Airport Terminal 1?
Be through the gates by around 11:19 PM most nights, or 12:19 AM on Fridays, to complete this 26-minute journey before the network closes. Gates stop admitting passengers shortly before the official closing time.
Can I take luggage on this route?
Yes - two pieces per passenger (one large + one carry-on size). There is no extra charge for luggage. See the luggage guide for size details and airport-station tips.
Route, fares and times are computed from our verified network dataset - the same data behind the interactive map. Journey time is an estimate; for live departures use the RTA S'hail app.