The Red Line is Dubai’s main metro corridor, 52 kilometres running from Dubai International Airport in the east to Jebel Ali in the west, following Sheikh Zayed Road through every major commercial district in between. It connects business hubs, shopping malls, tourist landmarks, and residential areas in a single continuous route.
This guide covers every Dubai Metro Red Line station, how the route links to other transport, current timings, fare zones, and the Nol Card system.
Complete List of Dubai Metro Red Line Stations
Complete List of Dubai Metro Red Line Stations
Red Line Metro Route Dubai Explained
Complete List of Dubai Metro Red Line Stations
Eastern terminus and airport zone:
Centrepoint is the eastern terminus in Al Rashidiya, close to Mirdif City Centre. Airport Terminal 3 and Airport Terminal 1 are underground stations inside Dubai International Airport, Terminal 3 handles most Emirates flights, Terminal 1 serves flydubai and other carriers. GGICO primarily serves business travellers in Dubai Airport Free Zone.
Deira and old Dubai:
City Centre Deira gives direct access to one of the city’s oldest malls and the surrounding Deira district. Al Rigga is the practical stop for budget hotels in Deira, within walking distance of restaurants and the creek.
Major interchanges:
Union is the first Red-Green Line interchange and connects to the main bus terminus for services to Sharjah, Ajman, and Fujairah. BurJuman is the second interchange, located directly below BurJuman Centre in Al Karama.
Financial and business corridor:
World Trade Centre is the main stop for conference and exhibition visitors. Emirates Towers and Financial Centre serve the DIFC corridor, Gate Village, Gate Avenue, and most major financial district offices are within walking distance.
Downtown Dubai and beyond:
Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall is the busiest station on the network, connecting via a climate-controlled bridge to Dubai Mall and placing passengers steps from the Burj Khalifa, Dubai Fountain, and Souk Al Bahar. Business Bay serves the commercial and residential towers along the Dubai Creek extension.
Mall of the Emirates has ground-level access into the mall itself, with Ski Dubai and 630+ stores immediately reachable on foot.
Dubai Marina zone:
Dubai Internet City is the main stop for the UAE’s tech hub, with regional offices for Microsoft, Google, and Oracle nearby. Sobha Realty and DMCC both connect to the Dubai Tram for onward access to Dubai Marina Walk, JBR, and The Beach.
Western terminus and branch:
Jabal Ali is the branching point where the route splits, the main line continues to UAE Exchange (serving Al Furjan and Jebel Ali), while the Route 2020 corridor heads south to Expo City Dubai via Al Furjan, Jumeirah Golf Estates, and Dubai Investment Park.
The Red Line Route Explained
The Red Line follows Sheikh Zayed Road for most of its central stretch, which is what makes it effective. The road is Dubai’s main highway, and running alongside it means the metro connects every major commercial district along the corridor without traffic delays.
From Centrepoint in the east, the route passes through the airport zone, crosses through Deira at Union and BurJuman, then continues south-west along Sheikh Zayed Road through the financial district, Downtown Dubai, Dubai Marina, and on to Jebel Ali.
The Green Line interchanges at Union and BurJuman extend access to areas the Red Line doesn’t reach directly: the Gold Souk, Bur Dubai, and Al Ghubaiba. The Route 2020 branch from Jabal Ali adds Expo City Dubai and surrounding communities to the network.
Dubai Metro Red Line Timings
| Day | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Monday – Thursday | 5:00 AM | Midnight |
| Saturday | 5:00 AM | Midnight |
| Friday | 5:00 AM | 1:00 AM |
| Sunday | 8:00 AM | Midnight |
Peak hours (Monday–Saturday): 7:00–9:00 AM and 5:30–7:30 PM. Trains run every 3–4 minutes during these windows. Off-peak frequency drops to around every 7 minutes.
During Ramadan, Eid, and National Day weekends, the RTA typically extends operating hours to 2:00 AM. Check the RTA’s S’hail app for real-time schedules and any service changes; it also handles Nol Card top-ups.
If you have flexibility, travelling between 9:30 AM and 4:30 PM avoids the busiest carriages and makes the journey noticeably more comfortable.
One Sunday note worth flagging: the 8:00 AM start catches people out. If you have an early airport transfer or morning meeting on a Sunday, plan for a taxi or rideshare instead.
Fares and the Nol Card System
Cash and credit cards are not accepted at the turnstile. All payments go through a Nol Card.
Fare Zones
| Zones Travelled | Standard Fare | Gold Class Fare |
|---|---|---|
| 1 zone | AED 3 | ~AED 6 |
| 2 zones | AED 5 | ~AED 10 |
| 3+ zones | AED 7.50 | ~AED 15 |
A Day Pass (AED 20 standard / AED 40 Gold) gives unlimited metro, tram, and RTA bus travel for one calendar day. For tourists covering multiple destinations, the Day Pass usually saves money over individual fares.
Nol Card Types
| Card | Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Red Ticket | Pay per journey | Occasional single trips |
| Silver Card | AED 25 (incl. AED 19 credit) | Tourists, short-term residents |
| Gold Card | AED 100 | Gold Class cabin access |
| Blue Card | Issued on application | Students, seniors 60+, People of Determination |
Children under five travel free. Blue Card holders, students, senior citizens, and People of Determination, receive discounts and free travel entitlements.
Major Attractions on the Red Line
| Attraction | Nearest Station |
|---|---|
| Burj Khalifa & Dubai Mall | Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall |
| Museum of the Future | Emirates Towers or World Trade Centre |
| Dubai International Airport | Airport Terminal 3 / Terminal 1 |
| Dubai Marina & JBR | DMCC or Sobha Realty (+ Dubai Tram) |
| Mall of the Emirates & Ski Dubai | Mall of the Emirates |
| Expo City Dubai | Route 2020 branch from Jabal Ali (~30 min from Union) |
Why Use the Red Line
Cost: A cross-city taxi on Sheikh Zayed Road costs AED 30–50. The same journey by metro is AED 7.50. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to a significant monthly saving.
Reliability: Sheikh Zayed Road sees heavy congestion at peak hours. The metro runs on a fixed schedule that road conditions can’t touch.
Frequency: During peak hours, trains arrive every 3–4 minutes. Even off-peak, the maximum wait time is around 7 minutes.
Comfort: Every station is air-conditioned in a city that regularly exceeds 40°C in summer. The driverless system means no crew changes, no driver fatigue, and a timetable that holds.
Accessibility: Every station has wheelchair ramps, lifts, and tactile paths for visually impaired passengers. People of Determination travel free with a registered Blue Nol Card.
Design: Stations are themed across five concepts: Earth, Water, Air, Fire, and UAE Heritage, which makes navigation intuitive and no two stations identical. The Dubai Metro earned the Guinness World Record in 2011 for the longest single-line driverless metro in the world.
Final Thoughts
The Red Line connects the city’s most important points: airport, financial district, Downtown, Dubai Marina, along a single route that runs faster and cheaper than road alternatives. Once you understand the station layout, the Nol Card system, and the Sunday timing exception, the metro becomes the default choice for most journeys across the city.
For transport and infrastructure updates across the UAE, the news section at UAEWeeklys covers ongoing developments.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
The Red Line runs from Centrepoint in the east to UAE Exchange in the west, with a Route 2020 branch extending south to Expo City Dubai via Jabal Ali.
35 stations in total, including the Route 2020 branch to Expo City.
Monday to Saturday: 5:00 AM to midnight. Friday: 5:00 AM to 1:00 AM. Sunday: 8:00 AM to midnight. Extended hours apply during Ramadan, Eid, and National Day.
Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall station, with a direct climate-controlled footbridge to Dubai Mall and the tower base.
Yes. Airport Terminal 3 and Airport Terminal 1 are both underground stations inside the terminal buildings.
AED 3 for one zone, AED 5 for two zones, AED 7.50 for three or more zones, using a standard Nol Card.
