Frequently Asked Questions about the Dubai Metro
How much does the Dubai Metro cost?
Check out the tickets page for details on Dubai Metro ticket prices.
What are the Dubai Metro Opening Hours?
The operating hours of the Dubai Metro are:
Red and Green Lines
Monday to Thursday from 5.00am until midnight, Friday 5am until 1am the next day, Saturday from 5.00am until midnight and on Sundays from 8am until midnight. On special occasions it is sometimes open for longer hours.
Can children travel for free?
Children 5 years old and below can travel free. Otherwise they pay the normal fares and need their own ticket.
Where can I buy my ticket?
You can buy tickets from vending machines and ticket offices at all Dubai Metro stations and bus stations as well as malls and airports. Some supermarkets also sell Nol cards including Spinneys.
Does everyone have to have their own ticket?
Yes, each adult and child (over 5) needs their own ticket.
If I have a silver Nol card will I be charged more than 20 dirhams each day?
Yes, in order to only pay the one day price of 20 dirhams you need to buy a one day pass, otherwise you will be charged for all the journeys you make.
How much is the minimum top up for the nol card?
The minimum amount to top up your card is 20 dirhams.
Am I restricted on the number of transfers I can make?
Yes, on a single trip ticket you can make only 1 transfer. On multi-zone travel you can make 3 transfers. Time allowed between transfers is 30 minutes.
Can you take food and drink onto the trains?
No, food and drink are not allowed on the trains and you will be fined if you are found eating or drinking.
Can I take luggage with me?
Yes, you can take one large and one small piece of luggage which is especially useful if you are travelling to the airport.
Can I take an eScooter on the Metro?
Electric scooters are very popular in Dubai and you can hire them from many locations. You used to be able to take them on the Metro, but with effect from 1st March 2024, they have been banned and you will be fined if you take one.
Do I have to pay for the feeder bus separately?
The feeder bus is included in the metro fare so in effect is free. As long as you travel on a bus and the Metro this will be the case. If you only travel on the bus then you will get charged the fare for the number of zones you travel through. So effectively the bus and the Metro are considered as one journey.
Does the Metro have facilities for people with disabilities?
Yes, they have the following:
- Contrasting tactile guidance path for the visually impaired.
- Ticket counters within easy reach for wheelchair users.
- Dedicated toilets for people with disabilities.
- Lift access to all station levels.
- Dedicated spaces for wheelchair users on all trains.
- Clear way finding signage.
- Information displayed on screens throughout trains and stations.
- Platform alerts as audible bleeps when doors close and corresponding flashing light signal.
How many passengers can each train carry?
The trains are designed for 643 passengers per 5 carriage train.
How frequent are the trains?
The RTA is constantly reassessing the frequency of the trains to take into account the extra stations that are open and how much the metro is used.
Currently around 5 million people use the Metro each month. Trains run every 5 minutes or more often during rush hour and every 8 minutes outside of rush hour.
Is the parking at Metro stations free?
Yes, parking is free for Metro users at the 3 designated car parks. If you don’t use the Metro then you will be charged for using the station car parks. You will also be fined if you leave your car at a metro station car park overnight.
What are the advantages of the blue nol card?
The Blue Nol card is assigned to an individual and can be topped up online. If the card is lost the credit can be recovered by reporting the lost card. Nol cards can be issued for Senior Citizens (over 60) and Special Needs users.
Blue Nol cards can also be used to purchase season tickets.
What happens if I miss the last train home?
There is a night bus that runs the length of the Metro between Nakheel Harbour and Tower and Rashidiya stations. The route runs every 20 minutes (upgraded from 30 minutes) from 11pm until 2am.
What is the security like at the metro stations?
The average security personnel per station is 14 and surveillance cameras per station is 64.
I parked the car at Rashidiyah metro parking but this morning there was technical issue with the metro. It stuck there more than 10mins. I had to rush to work so i check out and took the taxi to work. After work, i’ll using metro to go back to car parking but do i still have to pay for parking..??
I use metro to go to my university. I have a Nol silver card and I heard that I don’t have to pay for the parking as long as I use the metro. So what’s the procedure? Do I take the ticket when entering the car park or do I do something with my Nol card to enter. Explain the procedure please. Thank you.
Hi Syed, as we understand it you use your Silver Nol card that you will be using to travel with, to enter the car park at the barrier.
Hi, Tonight can I park my car in Rashidiya/Etisalat Metro station and go to view NY 2019 eve at Burj Khalifa and comeback by metro to collect my car? is there any parking charge for that? Thanks
Hi Kiran, you are usually not allowed to park your car in the car park overnight but as the metro is open all night the rules might be different tonight so I would call the RTA to confirm whether you can do this.
I’m coming to Dubai in a weeks time for a holiday, I plan to use the metro rail to get around. Can you advise on the best ticket for me to get, as I’m slightly confused by the limitations.
Hi Gemma, we can’t do personal recommendations as we don’t know how much and how often you will use the Metro when you are in Dubai, sorry.
I’m staying in Fish Roundabout, Deira and working at Dubai Silicon Oasis, where i used to travel by car. However, due to high demand of parking slot in deira, its very tough to get a slot in night time. So, i’m planning to park evening at Rashidiya Metro Car Park and use metro , then the morning i’ll take it out. May i know, which is allowable ?
Hi Thushi, no you are not allowed to park overnight in Rashidiya metro car park (or you will have to pay if you do)
Hi,
How much we have to pay for over night??. Is any monthly package available for overnight parking.
Hi, there is no option to pay for overnight parking as far as we are aware.
Can I park 6 days in Rashidiya metro station since I am going outside uae from DubaiAirports r
No you can’t just leave your car there.
Can I leave my car for 30 days in the Etisalat or Rashidiya Metro Station Parking to take my flight?
No
Hi, I am Hamida, I would like to apply for a job in your company. please can you give me leads on how I can apply.
Thank you.
You need to contact the RTA directly regarding any jobs.
I have been given a fine…
Where i can make a complain
You will need to contact the RTA directly.
I am travelling to “Dubai world central head quarters from Abu Backer metro station” daily to reach my office by metro and bus. So I took monthly pass to travel both metro and bus. But getting bus is difficult from “Dubai World central Headquarters to Ibn Batutta metro station” and vice versa. So I planned to travel in metro upto Danube or UAE Exchange station and thru my car from Danube or UAE Exchange station to World central Headquarters and vice versa. For that I need to park car my car in Danube or UAE Exchange station in evening to catch train to reach Abu Backer metro Staion. So Kindly advise me “Is it possible to park my car in those metro stations from Evening 6:00p.m to Morning 7:30 a.m ?
Note: I shall travel in metro both morning and evening daily
You will need to confirm with the RTA whether you are able to stay overnight in the parking. Call them on 800 9090.
I am from Abu Dhabi, I am traveling to abroad for four days, can I keep my car in Nakheel Harbor and Tower Station for these days on free parking?
No! Parking is only free when you are using the Metro.
is there any feeder bus near to aljawzaa building international city??
You can check out the Dubai Buses website for bus info.
Hi….
Im leaving palm jumeirah at 11:30 pm and im going to al rigga metro station tomorrow friday so until what time metro open i can catch the last train in internet city and what time train arriving.
Thank you.
if i parked my car in Nakheel Harbor and Tower Station from 7am to 6pm and used the metro to reach my office, will i still get a free parking?
Yes you will as long as you follow the correct parking procedure.
How is the procedure? How can I park for free if I took the metro?
Hi, you can park for free if you use the metro after parking and return before it closes. You need to tap your Nol card on entry to the car park.
Sorry, I have to go from DBX Emirates terminal to Burjuman metro station. Looking at the map, it appears from zone 5 to zone 6. How far it is from Emirates terminal to nearest Metro station at the airport?
There are Metro stations located at both terminals including the Emirates Terminal 3.
After arriving at Emirates terminal of DBX airport, where should I go to get metro for Bur Dubai?
Can I travel Metro with luggage from Airport to my station near hotel located in But Dubai (and vice a versa )?
Yes as long as your luggage isn’t exceedingly large.
I got on a train a Dubai Internet City and it did not stop at Nakheel but went through to Ibn Battuta. I am told this is an Express.
How do you tell if the train is an Express when the announcement was the same as usual?
I believe that the express trains should be shown as such on the display but perhaps this was not the case when you travelled.
There are accesible the buses for wheelchairs?
If you are disabled doing turist trip, what kind of fees you’ll pay using metro and buses? what class of Nol card you have to buy?
Yes the buses and metro are accessible for wheelchairs. Fares are no different for disabled tourist users (only if you have a Blue Nol card for locals) – check out the tickets page for prices. You can choose a red, silver or gold nol card.
As there is special price for disables on metro, where can I have blue card ,I am uk blue badge holder,
You will need to apply through the RTA who will require some documentation which I believe includes the Emirates ID.