Dubai Metro tickets & fares 2026: calculator, Nol cards & passes
Fare calculator
Pick two stations to see all four fare types, zone count and the separate 1-day pass note.
Dubai Metro fares at a glance
| Ticket / card | 1 zone | 2 zones | 3+ zones |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silver Nol / Blue (personal) | AED 3.00 | AED 5.00 | AED 7.50 |
| Gold Class | AED 6.00 | AED 10.00 | AED 15.00 |
| Red Ticket (standard) | AED 4.00 | AED 6.00 | AED 8.50 |
| Red Ticket (Gold) | AED 8.00 | AED 12.00 | AED 17.00 |
- Myth: Silver and Blue Nol cards automatically stop charging at AED 14 each day
- Fact: RTA's current fare page does not publish an automatic daily spending cap for Silver or Personal nol cards. AED 20 and AED 40 are separate 1-day Red Ticket Travel Pass prices for Regular and Gold Class.
Do not plan a day around an automatic AED 14 cap. It is not listed on RTA’s current fare page. If you want unlimited travel for one calendar day, buy the separate 1-day Travel Pass on a Nol Red Ticket: AED 20.00 for Regular Class or AED 40.00 for Gold Class, valid until midnight on the travel date.
Popular journeys, priced
| Journey | Zones | Stops | Silver Nol | Gold Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airport Terminal 3 → Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall | 2 | 12 | AED 5.00 | AED 10.00 |
| Airport Terminal 3 → Mall of the Emirates | 3 | 16 | AED 7.50 | AED 15.00 |
| Airport Terminal 3 → Sobha Realty | 3 | 20 | AED 7.50 | AED 15.00 |
| Union → BurJuman | 2 | 1 | AED 5.00 | AED 10.00 |
| BurJuman → Gold Souq | 2 | 3 | AED 5.00 | AED 10.00 |
| Al Rigga → Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall | 2 | 8 | AED 5.00 | AED 10.00 |
| Ibn Battuta → Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall | 2 | 11 | AED 5.00 | AED 10.00 |
| Centrepoint → Expo 2020 | 5 | 30 | AED 7.50 | AED 15.00 |
| Business Bay → DMCC | 2 | 8 | AED 5.00 | AED 10.00 |
| Dubai Airport Free Zone → Al Ghubaiba | 2 | 10 | AED 5.00 | AED 10.00 |
Which Nol card should you buy?
Visiting for a few days
Silver Nol — AED 25.00
Includes AED 19.00 of credit (AED 6.00 is the card itself). Buy at any station machine or counter, top up as you go. A practical option when you need several pay-as-you-go journeys.
Prefer Gold Class
Gold Nol — AED 25.00
Same price and credit as Silver, but rides the Gold Class cabin at double the fare per trip. A premium cabin does not guarantee a seat or extra luggage space. You can hold both and choose per trip - the card you tap decides the cabin you may sit in.
Living in Dubai
Blue (personal) Nol — AED 70.00
Registered to you, includes AED 20.00 credit. Balance is recoverable if lost, tops up online, and it is the only card that unlocks 50% concession fares (students, 60+, social-care categories) and free travel for People of Determination. Apply once via the RTA; takes a few days.
One or two rides only
Red Ticket — AED 2.00
Paper ticket for occasional riders: valid 90 days, holds up to 10 trips, single transport mode only, and each trip costs about a dirham more than Nol. Compare the card issue fee and trip fares for your itinerary, rather than assuming one product is always cheapest.
Gold Class, explained in one minute
Gold Class is the marked premium cabin. Follow the platform signs: its position depends on the train and travel direction. It costs double the standard Silver fare and requires a valid Gold Class ticket before boarding. It does not guarantee a seat, a quieter journey or additional luggage allowance. Our Gold Class guide compares the extra cost and explains when it may suit your trip.
Travel passes: 7, 30, 90 and 365 days
A travel pass covers eligible journeys for a specified period and set of zones. The published standard all-zones prices are AED 110 for 7 days, AED 350 for 30 days, AED 830 for 90 days and AED 2,670 for 365 days. Compare your actual travel pattern and the zone-limited options before buying; occasional riders may spend less paying per journey.
- Check the start and expiry dates shown by your purchase channel. Do not assume every purchase or renewal starts with the first journey.
- Anonymous cards (Silver/Gold) can only hold 7-day passes. For 30 days and longer you need a registered (Blue or personalised) card.
- For example, 22 return commuting days at AED 7.50 each way cost AED 330, less than an AED 350 all-zones monthly pass. Add your other eligible trips before deciding.
Transfers, tap-out and the fine print
- 30-minute rule: switching between metro, tram, or bus within 30 minutes counts as one journey (up to 3 transfers). Changing lines at Union or BurJuman happens inside the gates and never costs extra.
- Always tap out. Failure to tap out = maximum fare deducted from the card
- Children aged 5 and under travel free (and under-5s do not need a card at all when accompanied).
- Keep at least the minimum balance for your trip on the card - gates check on entry.
Fares & Nol cards: your questions answered
How much does the Dubai Metro cost?
With a Silver Nol card: AED 3 within one zone, AED 5 across two zones, AED 7.50 for three or more zones. Gold Class doubles those; the Red Ticket adds about a dirham per trip.
How much is a Nol card at the airport?
Same as everywhere: AED 25 for a Silver card including AED 19 of credit. Machines and counters at the airport metro stations sell them - that starting credit covers 2-3 typical trips.
Is there an automatic daily spending cap?
RTA does not publish an automatic AED 14 cap for Silver or Personal Nol cards on its current fare page. Pay the normal fare for each journey unless you buy a separate Travel Pass.
What is the difference between Silver and Gold Nol cards?
Both cost AED 25 with AED 19 credit. Gold lets you ride the marked Gold Class cabin at double fare; Silver rides the regular cabins. The card decides the cabin.
What is the Blue Nol card?
A registered personal card (AED 70 incl. AED 20 credit): recoverable balance if lost, online top-up, and the only route to 50% concession fares and free travel for People of Determination.
Do children travel free on the Dubai Metro?
Children aged 5 and under travel free. Students from age 6 can get 50% concession fares, but that requires a registered Blue card with student status.
Is there a tourist day pass?
Yes. A 1-day Travel Pass can be loaded on a Nol Red Ticket and allows unlimited trips until midnight on the travel date. The published price is AED 20 for Regular Class or AED 40 for Gold Class.
How do zones affect my fare?
Dubai has 7 transport zones; your fare depends on how many your journey passes through: 1 zone, 2 zones, or 3+. The calculator above counts them for any station pair.
How much is the metro from the airport to Downtown?
Airport Terminal 3 to Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall crosses two zones: AED 5 on a Silver Nol card, AED 10 in Gold Class, about 25 minutes.
How much is the metro from the airport to Dubai Marina?
Airport Terminal 3 to Sobha Realty (Marina) spans three zones: AED 7.50 on Silver, AED 15 Gold Class, roughly 55-60 minutes.
Can I pay with a credit card or phone instead of Nol?
Fare gates work on the Nol system. Buy a physical card, or use the Nol Pay app ecosystem for top-ups; do not count on open-loop bank-card tap-in - verify current support in the RTA app before relying on it.
What happens if I forget to tap out?
The system deducts the maximum fare from your card. If it happens, RTA customer service can review the journey - but the reliable fix is simply always tapping out.
How much is a monthly metro pass?
A 30-day unlimited all-zones pass is AED 350 on a Silver-class registered card, or AED 175 with concession status on a Blue card. Check the validity dates when purchasing.
Can I share one Nol card between two people?
No - one card per passenger per journey; each rider taps their own card. Card sharing through the same gate is a fineable Nol misuse.
Is the metro cheaper than taxis in Dubai?
Dramatically. The longest possible metro trip is AED 7.50; the same cross-city run by taxi is typically AED 60-100+. A couple can cross Dubai twice on the metro for the price of one short taxi hop.
Prices come from the linked RTA fare schedule. The calculator applies our station-zone dataset; it is not an RTA fare quote. Corrections: contact us.