Dubai Metro rules & fines 2026: the complete list
Every fineable offense on the Dubai Metro with its exact amount, plus the cabin rules and etiquette that keep you out of trouble. The short version: no eating, no wrong cabins, tap in and out, and you will never think about this page again.
- Myth: Eating on the metro costs AED 300
- Fact: The widely-circulated claim that eating costs AED 300 is wrong - eating or drinking is an AED 100 fine. AED 300 is the fine for sleeping in prohibited areas.
The full fines table
| Fine | Offense |
|---|---|
| AED 100 | Eating or drinking (including chewing gum) in stations or trains |
| Sitting in the wrong cabin (Gold Class or Women & Children without entitlement) | |
| Placing feet on seats | |
| Causing disturbance or inconvenience to other passengers | |
| Entering restricted areas | |
| AED 200 | Smoking or vaping anywhere in the metro system |
| Travelling without a valid ticket or Nol card | |
| Littering or spitting | |
| Misusing a Nol card (e.g. using a concession card you are not entitled to) | |
| AED 300 | Sleeping in prohibited areas of stations or trains |
| AED 2,000 | Damaging metro property |
| Misusing emergency equipment (alarms, brakes, evacuation devices) |
The three rules people actually break
- Eating and drinking — AED 100. This includes water, coffee, and chewing gum, anywhere past the fare gates. It is the most-issued fine on the network because visitors assume a discreet sip is fine. Inspectors are polite, plain-clothed, and unmoved.
- Wrong cabin — AED 100. Two cabins are restricted: Gold Class (front, needs a Gold card) and the Women & Children section (marked in pink on the platform and floor). Men drifting over the pink line during a crowded ride is the classic accidental fine.
- No valid ticket — AED 200. Includes an expired Red Ticket, an under-balance Nol, and tailgating through gates. The gates flag it instantly; the fine costs forty times the fare you saved.
Cabin rules
- Gold Class cabin: front cabin, Gold Nol card or Gold Red Ticket required - riding it on a Silver card is an AED 100 fine
- Women & Children cabin: middle section marked in pink - men entering is an AED 100 fine
- All other cabins are open to everyone
Luggage and what you can bring
Maximum 2 pieces of luggage per passenger (one large + one carry-on sized). Bulky items outside these limits are not allowed. That two-piece limit is enforced most visibly on airport runs - a big case plus a cabin bag is fine; three cases across two trolleys is not.
- No alcohol consumption or intoxication on the network
- Pets are not allowed (assistance animals excepted)
- Keep headphones on - playing audio out loud counts as causing disturbance
How enforcement actually works
Inspectors ride in plain clothes and sweep cabins in pairs, checking Nol taps with handheld readers. Fines are issued on the spot against your Nol card or ID and are payable through RTA channels. Two practical notes: first, genuine confusion (a tourist in Gold Class with a Silver card, thirty seconds after boarding) is often met with a warning and a request to move - but that is discretion, not policy, so do not rely on it. Second, fines attach to the person, not the card; ignoring one blocks future RTA services until settled. Disputes go through the RTA (8009090 or the S’hail app) - as an independent guide we cannot help with fine appeals.
Rules & fines: quick answers
Can I drink water on the Dubai Metro?
No - drinking anything, including water, is part of the AED 100 eating-and-drinking fine once you are past the fare gates. Carrying a sealed bottle is fine; drinking from it is not.
What is the fine for eating on the Dubai Metro?
AED 100. The AED 300 figure that circulates online is wrong - that amount applies to sleeping in prohibited areas.
Can men ride in the Women & Children cabin by mistake?
Crossing into the pink-marked section is an AED 100 fine regardless of intent. In packed trains watch the floor markings - the boundary is easy to drift across.
What happens if I sit in Gold Class with a Silver card?
AED 100 fine. The cabin you may use is decided by the card you tapped in with, and inspectors check cards against cabins with handheld readers.
Is chewing gum really banned?
Yes - gum falls under the eating rule (AED 100), partly because of the cleaning cost it creates in stations and trains.
Can I take luggage on the metro?
Yes: up to 2 pieces per passenger (one large, one carry-on sized). The airport stations enforce this most actively.
Are pets allowed on the Dubai Metro?
No - pets are not permitted on the metro. Assistance animals are the exception.
What is the fine for smoking or vaping?
AED 200, applied anywhere in the metro system - trains, platforms, and station buildings, including e-cigarettes.
How do I pay or dispute a metro fine?
Through official RTA channels: the S'hail app, the RTA website, or 8009090. We are an independent guide and cannot process or appeal fines.
Is there a dress code on the Dubai Metro?
The RTA asks riders to dress respectfully in line with UAE public norms - shoulders-and-knees coverage is the safe guideline. It is enforced as guidance rather than a scheduled fine.
Fine amounts sourced from the RTA schedule of public transport violations, re-verified monthly. See how we verify.