Dubai Metro timings 2026: first & last trains, all 7 days

Independent transport guide · Source: RTA (rta.ae) · Unofficial guide — for live updates use the RTA S’hail app

Dubai Metro timings today

Dubai Metro operating hours

Both metro lines run on this single timetable: the Red Line and the Green Line open and close together, seven days a week. Trains start at 5:00 AM every day except Sunday, when the network opens three hours later at 8:00 AM. Service runs until midnight most nights and until 1:00 AM after Friday - the busiest evening of the Dubai week.

"Closing time" here means the end of service: the last trains are dispatched so that the final run finishes around the closing hour, and station gates stop admitting new passengers shortly before that. If you are cutting it fine, be through the gates at least 10–15 minutes before closing - more on that below.

First and last trains by station

The network hours above are not the last train at your platform. The last trains are timed to finish their runs around closing time, so the last departure from most stations comes before closing time — in some directions more than an hour before — and it differs by direction. On a normal weeknight the earliest last departure is 10:44 PM from Expo 2020 towards Centrepoint, and the latest is 12:03 AM from Emirates towards Centrepoint. Choose a day to see every station’s first and last train in each direction; today’s day is selected automatically.

Red Line

Green Line

* After midnight, so early the following morning. Source: RTA Dubai Metro timetable (schedule REG_20260925, file dated 28 September 2026). Scheduled departures, not live running information; check the RTA S’hail app for engineering works or disruption. Each station page repeats its own times with directions spelled out.

Timings day by day

Monday: 5:00 AM to 12:00 AM (after midnight, technically the next day) — both lines.

Tuesday: 5:00 AM to 12:00 AM (after midnight, technically the next day) — both lines.

Wednesday: 5:00 AM to 12:00 AM (after midnight, technically the next day) — both lines.

Thursday: 5:00 AM to 12:00 AM (after midnight, technically the next day) — both lines.

Friday: 5:00 AM to 1:00 AM (after midnight, technically Saturday) — both lines.

Saturday: 5:00 AM to 12:00 AM (after midnight, technically the next day) — both lines.

Sunday: 8:00 AM to 12:00 AM (after midnight, technically the next day) — both lines.

Friday timings — the myth that will not die

Myth: The metro opens at 10 AM on Fridays

Fact: 5:00 AM every Friday since the January 2022 workweek change - closing 1:00 AM Saturday

Before January 2022, the UAE weekend was Friday–Saturday and the metro did start late on Fridays - which is why thousands of pages, forum answers and AI summaries still repeat the 10 AM figure. When the UAE moved to a Saturday–Sunday weekend, the RTA reset Friday to a normal 5:00 AM start and extended closing to 1:00 AM to cover Friday nightlife and late prayers traffic. If a website tells you the metro opens mid-morning on Friday, that page has not been updated in years.

Sunday’s late start catches everyone out

Myth: The metro runs the same hours every day

Fact: Sunday opens at 8:00 AM, three hours later than the rest of the week - this catches many riders out

Sunday is the one day the network sleeps in: first trains leave at 8:00 AM instead of 5:00 AM. If you have an early Sunday flight out of DXB or an early shift, the metro will not get you there - plan on a taxi, a ride-hailing app, or an RTA bus instead. This start time applies across the network, airport stations included.

Myth: The Green Line starts at 5:30 AM

Fact: Green Line hours are identical to the Red Line: 5:00 AM start (8:00 AM Sundays)

How the first trains start

At opening time trains do not only leave the ends of the line. According to the RTA timetable they set off at the same moment from several stations along the route, so most stations get a train within minutes of opening:

• Red Line: trains leave at 5:00 AM from Centrepoint, City Centre Deira, Al Rigga, Emirates Towers, Garmin, Equiti, Sobha Realty, DMCC, Life Pharmacy, Al Furjan, Expo 2020.
• Green Line: trains leave at 5:00 AM from Stadium, Union.

Every station has its first train by 5:08 AM on weekdays and by 8:11 AM on Sunday. From the airport, the first trains towards the city leave Terminal 3 at 5:05 AM and Terminal 1 at 5:07 AM (8:03 AM and 8:05 AM on Sunday). The table by station has the first train in each direction.

Catching the last train

The safe rule: be inside the paid area 15 minutes before closing time. Three things trip people up at night:

• Station entry gates are locked to new passengers shortly before the official close, even though trains are still moving.
• Your last train usually leaves before closing time. The closing hour is when the final trains finish their runs, so on weeknights the last departures range from 10:44 PM to 12:03 AM depending on the station and direction. Check yours in the table by station.
• If your trip needs a Red–Green interchange at Union or BurJuman, the connecting line’s last service may leave before yours arrives. For any journey with a transfer, treat 30 minutes before close as your deadline.

Miss it? Taxis queue outside major stations all night, ride-hailing apps operate 24/7, and RTA night buses cover key corridors between the metro’s close and reopening.

How often trains run

You never need a timetable for a specific train - at worst you wait about seven minutes. What actually matters at peak times is space: between 7:00 AM–9:00 AM and 5:30 PM–7:30 PM the busiest central stretch of the Red Line runs genuinely full, and you may let a packed train or two pass at stations like BurJuman or Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall. Off-peak, the network is comfortably quiet.

Dubai Tram timings (not the same as metro)

The Dubai Tram runs its own timetable - it is not the metro schedule. It connects to the Red Line by footbridge at Sobha Realty and DMCC for Marina and JBR. Off-peak waits are typically 6–8 minutes. Hours differ from the metro and the two systems close independently, so a last metro into DMCC after the tram has stopped means a short taxi for the beach leg. Full interchange rules and mistakes: metro–tram connections. For live tram departures use the RTA S’hail app.

Ramadan timings

During Ramadan the RTA adjusts public transport hours and announces the exact schedule shortly before the month begins - the pattern differs year to year, so we deliberately do not guess it here. No Ramadan override is currently in effect. When the RTA publishes the next Ramadan schedule, this page will carry it in a clearly marked section, dated, within a day of the announcement. Outside of the announced dates, the standard table above applies.

Public holidays, Eid and New Year’s Eve

The metro runs on every public holiday. For major occasions - Eid Al Fitr, Eid Al Adha, UAE National Day and New Year’s Eve - the RTA frequently extends hours or runs overnight service, announced a few days ahead on its official channels. Two practical notes: extended hours are announcements, not guarantees, so verify close to the date; and on New Year’s Eve expect airport-style crowds at Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall station from mid-evening, with crowd-control queuing in place.

Five timing tips locals actually use

• Shift ten minutes off-peak. Boarding at 6:50 AM instead of 7:05 AM is the difference between a seat and a squeeze on the central Red Line.
• Gold Class is a peak-hour tool. Double the fare, but at rush hour it is the difference between standing forty minutes and sitting - see fares.
• Sunday morning = taxi morning. Anything before 8:00 AM on a Sunday cannot be a metro trip. Budget for it.
• Friday nights are generous. With closing at 1:00 AM, the metro comfortably covers dinner and late plans - it is the one night you rarely need a taxi home.
• Airport runs: pad by one train. For flights, aim one train earlier than the calculator says. A missed check-in costs more than seven minutes on a platform.

Dubai Metro timings: your questions answered

What time does the Dubai Metro open?

Trains start at 5:00 AM every day except Sunday, when the network opens at 8:00 AM. Both the Red and Green lines follow the same schedule.

What time does the Dubai Metro close?

Service ends at midnight on Saturday through Thursday, and at 1:00 AM (into Saturday morning) on Fridays. Station gates stop admitting passengers shortly before closing.

What are the Dubai Metro Friday timings?

Friday service runs 5:00 AM to 1:00 AM the next morning - the longest day of the week. The old 10 AM Friday start ended with the January 2022 workweek change.

What are the Dubai Metro Sunday timings?

Sunday runs 8:00 AM to midnight - the only day with a late start. Early Sunday flights and shifts need a taxi or bus instead.

Are Red Line and Green Line timings different?

No. Operating hours are identical on both lines, including the Sunday late start and the Friday late close. The "Green Line starts at 5:30" claim is wrong.

Does the Dubai Metro run 24 hours?

No. There is an overnight gap between closing (midnight, or 1 AM after Friday) and the next morning's start. The RTA occasionally announces overnight service for special occasions like New Year's Eve.

How often do Dubai Metro trains come?

Every 2-4 minutes at peak times (7:00 AM–9:00 AM and 5:30 PM–7:30 PM on weekdays) and every 5-7 minutes off-peak. No timetable needed.

What are the Dubai Metro Ramadan timings?

The RTA announces adjusted Ramadan hours each year shortly before the month starts; there is no fixed pattern to assume. No Ramadan schedule is currently in effect - this page is updated within a day of each announcement.

What time is the first metro from Dubai Airport?

The first trains towards the city leave Airport Terminal 3 at 5:05 AM and Terminal 1 at 5:07 AM from Monday to Saturday, and at 8:03 AM and 8:05 AM on Sunday (RTA timetable).

What time is the last metro to Dubai Airport?

On Monday to Thursday the last train towards Centrepoint calls at Terminal 1 at 12:00 AM and Terminal 3 at 12:02 AM (1:00 AM and 1:02 AM after Friday). Your own deadline is the last train towards Centrepoint from the station where you board - check its station page - and for a flight, take a much earlier train.

Is the Dubai Metro open on public holidays?

Yes, every public holiday. For Eid, National Day and New Year's Eve the RTA often extends hours by announcement - check its channels or the S'hail app close to the date.

Does the metro run overnight on New Year's Eve?

In recent years the RTA has announced extended or overnight New Year service, but it is a per-year announcement, not a standing rule. Expect heavy crowd control at Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall station either way.

What are the weekend timings?

Saturday: 5:00 AM to midnight. Sunday: 8:00 AM to midnight. The UAE weekend is Saturday-Sunday, and Sunday's late start is the one to remember.

How early should I be at the station for the last train?

Be through the gates 15 minutes before closing, or 30 minutes if your journey includes a line change at Union or BurJuman - the connecting line's last service may leave earlier than yours arrives.

Do all stations open and close at the same time?

No. Network hours describe the whole system. Every station has its first train by 5:08 AM on weekdays, and last departures differ by station and direction - from 10:44 PM to 12:03 AM on a normal weeknight. The table by station on this page lists them all.

What happens if I am on a train at closing time?

You complete your journey - closing time is calibrated so the last dispatched trains finish their full runs. You just cannot enter a station and start a new journey after the gates close.

Is there transport after the metro closes?

Yes: taxis wait outside major stations all night, ride-hailing apps run 24/7, and RTA night buses cover main corridors until the metro reopens.

Are Dubai Tram timings the same as the metro?

No - the tram (which connects to the Red Line at Sobha Realty and DMCC) runs its own timetable with a later start. Check the tram schedule separately if your journey continues to JBR or Dubai Marina.

What are the peak hours to avoid?

Weekdays 7:00 AM–9:00 AM and 5:30 PM–7:30 PM, especially on the central Red Line stretch between BurJuman and Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall. Trains run every 2-4 minutes but fill completely.

Do Route 2020 (Expo) branch trains run the same hours?

Yes - the Expo 2020 branch is part of the Red Line and follows the same network hours, with direct trains between Centrepoint and Expo 2020.

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Check the linked RTA timetable for your date, station and direction. Network operating hours are not station-specific departure times. Report a discrepancy through our contact page.