The red metro line is the longest and most popular metro route in Dubai. There are metro stops at popular locations such as Dubai International Airport, Burj Khalifa, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai Marina and Expo City Dubai. The subways are unmanned and run automatically. The red metro line in Dubai is an ideal way to travel around Dubai. The metro is modern, clean, fast and cheap. The signs are in Arabic and English, which makes it easy to find your way around. A third metro line, the Blue Line, is under construction and scheduled to open in 2029.
The red line metro on the map
As you can see from the metro map below, the red metro line is the longest in Dubai.
The metro stops on the red metro line in Dubai
Below are the stops of the red metro line. Stations R70–R76 are on the Route 2020 branch, which splits off at National Paints station (formerly Jabal Ali) and takes you to Expo City Dubai. Some numbers (such as 27, 28 and 30) are reserved for future stations.
| Station | Current name | Previously known as |
|---|---|---|
| R11 | Centrepoint (P+R, free car park) | Al Rashidiya |
| R12 | Emirates | — |
| R13 | Airport Terminal 3 | — |
| R14 | Airport Terminal 1 | — |
| R15 | Al Garhoud | GGICO |
| R16 | Deira City Centre | — |
| R17 | Al Rigga | — |
| R18 | Union – transfer to the Green Line | — |
| R19 | BurJuman – transfer to the Green Line | Khalid Bin Al Waleed |
| R20 | ADCB | Al Karama |
| R21 | Max | Al Jafiliya |
| R22 | World Trade Centre | — |
| R23 | Emirates Towers | — |
| R24 | Financial Centre | — |
| R25 | Burj Khalifa / Dubai Mall | — |
| R26 | Business Bay | — |
| R29 | Garmin | ONPASSIVE, Noor Bank, Al Safa |
| R31 | Equiti | Umm Al Sheif, First Abu Dhabi Bank, First Gulf Bank |
| R32 | Mall of the Emirates | — |
| R33 | InsuranceMarket.ae | Mashreq, Sharaf DG |
| R34 | Dubai Internet City | — |
| R35 | Al Fardan Exchange | Al Khail |
| R36 | Sobha Realty – transfer to the Orange Tram | DAMAC Properties, Dubai Marina |
| R37 | DMCC – transfer to the Orange Tram | Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT) |
| R38 | National Paints – transfer to the Route 2020 branch | Jabal Ali, Nakheel Harbour & Tower |
| R39 | Ibn Battuta – bus to Al Maktoum International Airport | — |
| R40 | Energy | DUBAL |
| R41 | Danube | Jebel Ali Industrial |
| R42 | Life Pharmacy | UAE Exchange, Jebel Ali |
| R70 | The Gardens | — |
| R71 | Discovery Gardens | — |
| R72 | Al Furjan | — |
| R73 | Jumeirah Golf Estates | — |
| R74 | Dubai Investment Park | — |
| R76 | Expo City Dubai | EXPO 2020 |
Attractions along the red metro line
Many of Dubai’s top attractions are right on the red line, so you can plan a full day of sightseeing without ever needing a taxi:
- Burj Khalifa & The Dubai Mall – Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall station (R25)
- Museum of the Future – Emirates Towers station (R23)
- Mall of the Emirates & Ski Dubai – Mall of the Emirates station (R32)
- Boat trips & dhow cruises in Dubai Marina – Sobha Realty or DMCC station (R36/R37)
- Expo City Dubai – Expo City station (R76)
The prices for the red metro line in Dubai
Travelling by metro is the cheapest way to travel in Dubai. A day pass for unlimited travel on the Dubai Metro costs 20 AED for regular class and 40 AED for Gold class. This pass allows you unlimited access to all zones of the metro and tram network for one day, valid until midnight on the day of purchase.
For single tickets, the cost varies depending on the number of zones you travel through:
- 1 zone: 4 AED
- 2 adjacent zones: 6 AED
- More than 2 zones: 8.5 AED
Dubai is divided into 7 zones, and metro fares are calculated based on the number of zones crossed during your journey. It’s important to properly scan your Nol card or ticket at entry and exit points to ensure the correct fare is charged . With a rechargeable silver Nol card single fares are slightly cheaper (3, 5 or 7.50 AED) and your daily total is automatically capped at AED 14.
If you are planning on travelling a lot with public transport, we highly recommend purchasing a Nol card (and activating a day pass) when in Dubai. It’s a convenient and cost-effective way to pay for public transport, including metro, tram, buses, and even some taxis.
Please note a Nol card is not valid for the Palm Monorail. You need a separate monorail ticket for this.
Timetable red metro line in Dubai
Dubai’s subways run 7 days a week according to a fixed timetable. A metro runs every 2 to 3 minutes during peak hours and every 5 to 7 minutes off-peak. The red metro line runs at the following times:
| Day | Operating hours |
|---|---|
| Sunday | 08:00 to 00:00 |
| Monday | 05:00 to 00:00 |
| Tuesday | 05:00 to 00:00 |
| Wednesday | 05:00 to 00:00 |
| Thursday | 05:00 to 00:00 |
| Friday | 05:00 to 01:00 |
| Saturday | 05:00 to 00:00 |
