The Dubai Metro Red Line is one of the most important pieces of transport infrastructure in the city. It’s responsible for connecting some of Dubai’s most popular areas and destinations.
If you’re visiting Dubai and plan on using public transport, then you’ll certainly be using the Red Line. In this article, we’ll discuss everything you need to know about it.
The main section of the Dubai Metro Red Line runs between Centrepoint and Expo 2020, passing Dubai International Airport, and going through Deira and Bur Dubai. It then follows the Sheikh Zayed Road to Jabal Ali, calling at destinations such as World Trade Centre, Business Bay, the Dubai Mall, and Dubai Marina, before heading to the exhibition site.
A branch line of the Red Line runs from Jabal Ali to UAE Exchange. To travel to UAE Exchange or other stations on the branch line you’ll need to change trains at Jabal Ali.
Before the opening of the Route 2020 extension, trains ran non-stop from Centrepoint to UAE Exchange.
The Red Line connects to the Green Line at two transfer stations; Union Metro Station and BurJuman Metro Station.
Six stations on the Red Line are underground (Deira City Centre, Al Rigga, Union, BurJuman, Jumeirah Golf Estates, and Dubai Investment Park). UAE Exchange is at ground level. The rest are elevated.
There are two large park-and-ride facilities on the line where drivers can park their cars free of charge. Centrepoint Metro Station (close to Dubai International Airport) has spaces for 2,700 vehicles while Jabal Ali Metro Station (west of Dubai Marina) can accommodate 3,000 vehicles.
Timings
Timings for the Red Line are:
- Monday to Thursday – 5:00 am to 12:00 am (midnight)
- Friday – 5:00 am to 1:00 am (next day)
- Saturday – 5:00 am to 12:00 am (midnight)
- Sunday – 8:00 am to 12:00 am (midnight)
Hours may change for public holidays.
Trains run at around 3-minute intervals during peak hours and every 5 minutes at other times.
The total travel time between Centrepoint and Expo 2020 is approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Schematic Map
The diagram below is a schematic representation of the Dubai Metro system. All the stations on the Red Line are highlighted.
Travel zones are also shown. Fares are calculated based on the number of zones crossed.
Please note the following station name changes:
- Al Jafiliya – Renamed Max in August 2021
- Al Karama – Renamed ADCB (Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank) in September 2014
- DAMAC Properties – Renamed Dubai Marina in November 2020, and then SOBHA Realty in August 2021
- Jebel Ali – Renamed UAE Exchange in June 2015
- First Gulf Bank – Renamed First Abu Dhabi Bank in 2018, then Umm Al Sheif in November 2020, and then Equiti in April 2022
- Jumeirah Lakes Towers – Renamed DMCC (Dubai Multi Commodities Centre) in November 2018
- Nakheel – Renamed Al Khail in November 2020
- Nakheel Harbour and Tower – Renamed Jabal Ali in May 2020
- Noor Bank – Renamed Al Safa in November 2020
- Rashidiya – Renamed Centrepoint in August 2021
- Sharaf DG – Renamed Mashreq in May 2020
Quick Guide – Red Line
Use our guide to the main section of the Red Line to find the closest station to your intended destination.
| Metro Station | Station Number | Area | Zone | Nearby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centrepoint (formerly Rashidiya) | R11 | Rashidiya | 5 | Bin Sougat Centre, Al Rashidiya Police Station, Al Rashidiya Park, City Centre Mirdif, Etihad Mall, Nad Shamma Park, Arabian Center, Uptown Mirdif, Mushrif Park, Rashidiya Bus Station |
| Emirates | R12 | Garhoud | 5 | Emirates Group HQ. Dubai International Airport, Dubai Festival City, Dubai Festival City Mall |
| Airport Terminal 3 | R13 | Garhoud | 5 | Dubai International Airport |
| Airport Terminal 1 | R14 | Garhoud | 5 | Dubai International Airport |
| GGICO | R15 | Garhoud | 5 | City Centre Deira, Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club, Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium |
| Deira City Centre | R16 | Deira | 5 | City Centre Deira, Deira Clock Tower, Deira City Centre Bus Station |
| Al Rigga | R17 | Deira | 5 | Deira Clock Tower |
| Union (Transfer Station) | R18 | Deira | 5 | Al Ghurair Centre, Union Square, Union Square Bus Station, Dubai Creek, Twin Towers |
| BurJuman (Transfer Station) | R19 | Bur Dubai | 6 | BurJuman, Al Seef, Karama |
| ADCB (formerly Al Karama) | R20 | Al Karama | 6 | Dubai Central Post Office, Karama Centre, Al Attar Shopping Mall, Karama Market, Al Karama Bus Station |
| Max (formerly Al Jafiliya) | R21 | Al Jafiliya | 6 | Zabeel Park, Dubai Frame, Dubai Garden Glow, Bur Dubai Police Station. Al Jafiliya Bus Station |
| World Trade Centre | R22 | Trade Centre | 6 | Dubai World Trade Centre |
| Emirates Towers | R23 | Trade Centre | 6 | Emirates Towers, Emirates Towers Boulevard, DIFC, Museum of the Future |
| Financial Centre | R24 | Dubai International Financial Centre | 6 | DIFC |
| Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall | R25 | Downtown Dubai | 6 | Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall, Coca Cola Arena, Dubai Fountain, Dubai Opera, Burj Park, Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo, The Green Planet, Dubai Ice Rink, City Walk, Souk Al Bahar |
| Business Bay | R26 | Business Bay | 6 | Safa Park |
| Al Safa (formerly Noor Bank) | R29 | Al Quoz | 2 | Al Quoz Bus Station, Kite Beach, Oasis Mall, Times Square Center |
| Equiti (formerly Umm Al Sheif and First Abu Dhabi Bank) | R31 | Al Quoz | 2 | Gold & Diamond Park |
| Mall of the Emirates | R32 | Al Barsha | 2 | Mall of the Emirates, Ski Dubai, Mall of the Emirates Bus Station |
| Mashreq (formerly Sharaf DG) | R33 | Al Barsha | 2 | Al Barsha Pond Park |
| Dubai Internet City | R34 | Barsha Heights | 2 | |
| Al Khail (formerly Nakheel) | R35 | Dubai Media City | 2 | Dubai Media City Amphitheatre, Emirates Golf Club, American University in Dubai |
| SOBHA Realty (formerly Dubai Marina and DAMAC Properties) | R36 | Dubai Marina | 2 | Dubai Marina Mall, Dubai Marina Tram Station |
| DMCC (formerly Jumeirah Lakes Towers) | R37 | Jumeirah Lakes Towers | 2 | Dubai Marina Mall, The Walk, Jumeirah Lakes Towers Tram Station, Almas Tower |
| Jabal Ali (formerly Nakheel Harbour and Tower) | R38 | Jebel Ali | 2 | |
| The Gardens | R70 | The Gardens | 2 | The Gardens, Discovery Gardens |
| Discovery Gardens | R71 | Discovery Gardens | 2 | Discovery Gardens |
| Al Furjan | R72 | Al Furjan | 2 | Al Furjan, Discovery Gardens |
| Jumeirah Golf Estates | R73 | Jumeirah Golf Estates` | 3 | Jumeirah Golf Estates, Dubai Production City |
| Dubai Investment Park | R74 | Green Community, Dubai Investments Park | 1 | Green Community |
| Expo 2020 | R76 | Expo 2020 | 1 | Expo 2020, Dubai Exhibition Centre |
Quick Guide – Red Line Branch Line
The branch line of the Red Line runs from Jabal Ali to UAE Exchange. To travel on the main section of the Red Line, change trains at Jabal Ali.
| Metro Station | Station Number | Area | Zone | Nearby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jabal Ali | R38 | Jebel Ali | 2 | |
| Ibn Battuta | R39 | Jebel Ali | 2 | Ibn Battuta Mall, The Gardens, Jebel Ali Recreation Club |
| Energy | R40 | Jebel Ali | 2 | Gurunanak Darbar Sikh Temple, Festival Plaza, Al Muntazah |
| Danube | R41 | Jebel Ali | 1 | |
| UAE Exchange (formerly Jebel Ali) | R42 | Jebel Ali | 1 |
Dubai Tram Connections
The Dubai Metro connects to Dubai Tram stations at DMCC and SOBHA Realty, both Red Line stations.
The tram runs around Dubai Marina and Jumeirah Beach Residence. It then follows King Salman bin Abdulaziz al Saud Street to the Palm Jumeirah before continuing to Al Sufouh.
Bus Stations
The Dubai Metro is a quick and efficient way to get around the city, but some places can only be reached by bus. Fortunately, bus stations can be found near many of the Red Line stations.
Bus stations near Red Line stations include:
- Rashidiya Bus Station is next to Centrepoint Metro Station.
- Deira City Centre Bus Station is near Deira City Centre Metro Station.
- Union Bus Station is near Union Metro Station. Bus services from here include buses to Sharjah, Ajman, and Fujairah.
- Al Karama Bus Station is close to ADCB Metro Station.
- Al Jafiliya Bus Station is near Max Metro Station.
- Mall of the Emirates Bus Station is next to Mall of the Emirates Metro Station.
- Ibn Battuta Bus Station is next to Ibn Battuta Metro Station. Bus services from here include intercity buses to Abu Dhabi.
Feeder buses (local buses) also depart from most Dubai Metro stations. With buses running to all corners of the city, you’re sure to find a bus that can take you where you need to go.
