Metro, Dubai

Dubai has an ultra modern metro, with stations that wouldn't look out of place on Jupiter. The system is clean, fast and efficient, and decent value for money. It's not all that extensive at the moment, though, and consists mostly of one long stretch running north to south. It does serve the airport and some of the major tourist destinations, like Downtown with the Burj Khalifa.

There are really only two choices of tickets for visitors: Red and Silver. The red tickets can be loaded with up to ten journeys. You can't transfer out of the system, say from the Metro to the bus - each link is a single journey. You can also buy the pre-paid Silver ticket, which costs 20 AED up front, and gives 14 AED of ticket value. Fares are then cheaper than on the red system. You need to use the metro system a few times to get any value out of it - you save 1 AED per journey so after six journeys you start to save.

The Dubai Metro also doubles as a pedestrian walkway overpass, with sections alloted for pedestrians too. The Dubai Metro is the longest unmanned, fully automated train system in the world. At Present, they only have 2 lines, the green line and the red line. The Dubai Metro also has a line connecting the Dubai International Airport to Dubai Proper.

The Dubai Metro Stations have both booths for accepting payments and automated tellers which issues red NOL Tickets to patrons or just deducts the value of the Silver, Red, Gold and Blue NOL cards for the length of the trip.

The average waiting time for the next train during rush hours is 7 to 10 minutes and 4 to 5 minutes during off peak hours.

the full speed of the train is 90 kilometers per hour.

the Dubai Metro is divided into 5 zones and 4 tiers and cost of a single journey depends on the number of zones you crossed, with the cheapest at 2 AED and the most expensive at 6.50 AED per single trip.

Metro Station working hours

Sunday - Wednesday 5:50am to 00:00

Thursday 5:50am to 01:00am

Friday 1:00pm to 01:00am

Saturday 5:50am to 00:00

according to wikipedia:

Dubai Metro is composed of at-grade (G) elevated Type 1, Type 2 and Type 3 (T1, T2 and T3, respectively) underground stations (U) and underground transfer station types (UT). Type 1 is the regular at-grade concourse station, Type 2 is a regular elevated concourse station, and Type 3 is an elevated special track station with an extra track to hold a non operational train. Underground transfer stations will be accommodating both the Red and Green lines for easy transfers.

The Dubai Transport is divided into up to 4 tiers(5 zones). As of the 2013 cheapest ticket(not preloaded, and not in the "gold" class) with distance not more than 3 km cost 2.00 AED(about 0.54$) - equivalent of Tier 0, and most costly single trip(Tier 3, exceed 2 zones, and paper not preloaded ticket also) 6.50 AED(about 1.77$) and wasn't increased from opening. This places Dubai Metro among the cheapest metro fares in the world. Tier 1 is one zone trip, where the travel exceeds 3 km, Tier 2 is neighboring 2 zones travel. Also(excluding Gold class) using cards there is "no more paying" - a free rest of day travel if cost extend 14 AED(about 3.81$).

This will be my how to ride the Dubai Metro Tips:

Currently, there are only 2 lines, the red line and the green line.

The Dubai Metro Stations have both booths for accepting payments and automated tellers which issues red NOL Ticket to patrons or just deducts the value of the Silver, Gold and Blue NOL cards for the length of the trip (if you bought the NOL Cards, you just insert your NOL card into the automated teller and press on what metro station you will exit and the machine automatically deducts the amount in your NOL card)

The average waiting time for the next train during rush hours is 7 to 10 minutes and 4 to 5 minutes during off peak hours.

the full speed of the train is 90 kilometers per hour. way slower that the speed limit of 100 kilometers per hour road speed limit (in reality up to 120 KM/H i allowed as road speed limit).

the Dubai Metro is divided into 5 zones and 4 tiers and cost of a single journey depends on the number of zones you crossed, with the cheapest at 2 AED and the most expensive at 6.50 AED per single trip.

Metro Station working hours

Sunday - Wednesday 5:50am to 00:00

Thursday 5:50am to 01:00am

Friday 1:00pm to 01:00am

Saturday 5:50am to 00:00

according to wikipedia:

Dubai Metro is composed of at-grade (G) elevated Type 1, Type 2 and Type 3 (T1, T2 and T3, respectively) underground stations (U) and underground transfer station types (UT). Type 1 is the regular at-grade concourse station, Type 2 is a regular elevated concourse station, and Type 3 is an elevated special track station with an extra track to hold a non operational train. Underground transfer stations will be accommodating both the Red and Green lines for easy transfers.

The Dubai Transport is divided into up to 4 tiers(5 zones). As of the 2013 cheapest ticket(not preloaded, and not in the "gold" class) with distance not more than 3 km cost 2.00 AED(about 0.54$) - equivalent of Tier 0, and most costly single trip(Tier 3, exceed 2 zones, and paper not preloaded ticket also) 6.50 AED(about 1.77$) and wasn't increased from opening. This places Dubai Metro among the cheapest metro fares in the world. Tier 1 is one zone trip, where the travel exceeds 3 km, Tier 2 is neighboring 2 zones travel. Also(excluding Gold class) using cards there is "no more paying" - a free rest of day travel if cost extend 14 AED(about 3.81$).

The famous Dubai Metro, which is the longest fully automated network in the world, also acts as an air conditioned pedestrian overpass walkway. If you enter any Dubai Metro Station, they have separate walkways for people who just want to cross to the other side of the wide streets of dubai. since this metro stations also are overpass pedestrian skybridges and this is more apparent at the busy Shiek Zayed Road, where there are not much at level pedestrian crossing stations.

So if you are planning to cross the other side of the busy street and is near a Dubai Metro Station, specially in Shiekh Zayed Road, then you can use the dubai metro station to cross over the other side without entering the main train area.

The Dubai Metro is the best way of transportation, where you can move from a place to another for 4 derhams = 2 dollars.
for example you can go from Mall of the Emirates to Dubai Mall or burj Khalifa in less than 15 mins.
NO food NO drinks are allowed in the metro. (you will get a ticket if you do it)
good choice if you have a baby and a stroller.
You can say it is a 5 star metro.

The Dubai metro is very convenient and easy to use, and the nicest thing about it is that it travels most of the time above the ground, giving you a great city-sightseeing at the same time.

It is totally automated, cheap, around 3 € for a day- card and it brings you to the most important and interesting places in Dubai.

I was impressed by how clean and well-kept everything was, and I felt much safer in the Dubai metro than in many other undergrounds around the world.

Traffic congestion in Dubai finally led the government to construct a metro system to connect the disparate neighbourhoods of this Metropolis. The system was swiftly built in 2008 and opened in 2009 with its first line. Other lines later followed and work continues on building an efficient network. The system has certainly lessened car traffic and anyone I know who's taken it recommends it. I've yet to try it, but was able to observe it from my hotel room (see attached photos).

Dubai's metro is more of a skytrain or monorail than a subway. It glides above the city, giving you a fairly good view of the main attractions inside the core of the metropolitan area. Unfortunately, it doesn't go from the centre to Jumeirah, but it does take you all the way to DBX, and to Dubai Marina. The metro is safe, cheap and clean, and a good alternative to fighting with taxi drivers who may or may not understand where you want to go.

The United Arab Emirate’s Dubai Metro is a fully automated driverless metro network. While multiple lines are planned, the Red and Green Lines are currently under construction and will run underground in the city centre and on elevated viaducts elsewhere. The Dubai Metro will be the longest fully automated rail system in the world when it opens on 09-09-09!

The trains and stations will be air conditioned with platform edge doors to make this possible.

Planning of the Dubai Metro began under the directive of Dubai's ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum who expected other projects to attract 15 million visitors to Dubai by 2010. The combination of a rapidly-growing population (expected to reach 3 million by 2017) and severe traffic congestion necessitated the building of an urban rail system to provide additional public transportation capacity, relieve motor traffic, and provide infrastructure for additional development.

There may be only 2 lines (at the moment) but the Dubai Metro is one the most comfortable and efficient around. It's only being going since 2009, built by Japanese contractors with superbly designed stations, comfortable trains and high powered a/c.

There's gold class (comfy seating, carpeted floors) and a women and child only section (both at one end of the train).

Red Line connects the airport to the new business sector and runs along Sheikh Zayeed Road via Deira, the Burj Khalifa and Dubai Marina. It runs for miles! The Green Line serves Bur Dubai and essentially runs round the Dubai Creek with 2 or 3 connections with the Red Line.

There are 5 zones (that's how far Red Line runs) but most will travel no more than Zones 1 and 2 (Burj Khalifa is in Zone 2) and will cost 4.50 AED. One zone is just 2 AED. Gold class is double.

Alternatively, if you are planning to spend time travelling on the metro from place to place (and in the heat, not a bad thing!), a one day ticket valid in all zones is just 14 AED.

On our last two visits there were two functioning metro lines. I would guess all the stations on the older red line that goes all the way to Jebel Ali are now open. Use this line for sights like the Dubai Mall/Burj Kahlife (plus shuttle bus), The Mall of the Emirates, Ibn Battuta Mall, Dubai Marina. The new green line goes round the creek. It was open up to Dubai Health Care Station, not all the way to Creek Station on our last visit (April 2012). Dubai Health Care station is perfect for visiting the WAFI Mall; Al Ras Station is right next to the fish souq, vegetable souq and gold souq. Al Gubiba Station is great for the Creek and Shindaga Waterfront area.

The Dubai Metro only has two lines, but most tourists will find that they are plenty and serves them quite well.
The metro serves the airport, the old part of Dubai, the new part and you can get aroundto the main points of interest quite easily using the metro.
Tickets are not expensive and cost around 1-2 euros each depending on how far you travel.
The carriages has one that is dedicated to women and you might like to use that one as a woman as it's usually quite empty as most women just use the other mixed carriages, which at times can be a little cramped.
There is also a first class carriage, but i never used that one so i can't say much about it.
But the Dubai Metro is really good and fast and i strongly suggest you start with looking at that one when it comes to transporting yourself around dubai.

Facts about Dubai :
Regarding the metro is divided into three category
The last track is usually for golden members you do need a special card to get in it.
The track next to golden one is usually made for women only
The rest of the tracks every body can get onboard.
If you are in dubai for some time is better to purchase the silver card it's perks is that you can use it for bus and metro.
It costs 20 Dirhams it has already 14 Dirhams that you can spend.

Nol Red Ticket
For the Occasional Traveller

Nol Red Ticket is a paper-based ticket that can be bought from any ticket vending machine at any time for only AED 2. It can be loaded with up to 10 Single Trips. Currently, this ticket can only be used on one mode of transport at a time (e.g. on Metro only, Bus only).
Key features

Low ticket price
Can be bought from any ticket vending machine at any time
Allows you to pay for the exact trip only

Nol Silver Card
The perfect starter card

Nol Silver Card is a smart card with an e-purse that can be loaded with up to AED 500. Enjoy the ease of getting this card immediately from any ticket office for only AED 20 (includes AED 14 e-purse value) and enjoy the convenience of using one card on all modes of transport.
Key features

Automatically calculates the cost of your trip and deduct it from your e-purse
Valid on all modes of transport
You can get it for a low price and use it immediately
Valid for 5 years

Fares :

silver card goldcars bluecard red card
Daily Fare Cap 14.00 14.00 1 14.00 n/a
Short Trip ( 3km) 1.80 3.60 1.80 2.00
Within 1 Zone 2.30 4.60 2.30 2.50
2 Adjacent Zones 4.10 8.20 4.10 4.50
More than 2 Zones 5.80 11.60 5.80 6.50
Student, senior citizen 2,3 N/A N/A 50% N/A
Disabled 4 N/A N/A Free N/A
Children 5 Free Free Free Free

This means of transport is a blessing for Dubai. The city is quite sprawling, particularly on it's north-south axis, and without such a mass transit facility, getting around was a real struggle, especially during peak hours.

The metro is very efficient. The red line starts from Rashiiya (east of the airport), then it connects both of the airport terminals, passes through Deira (north of Dubai Creek), next there are two underground interchanges on either side of the Creek (Union, and Khalid bin Al Waleed) for connections to the currently under construction green line.

The red line then heads south through Dubai Mall (Burj Khalifa), the financial district, Mall of the Emirates, Ibn Battuta, all the way to Jebel Ali.

Stations and carriages are air-conditioned. Ticket desk officials are very helpful, and there are many leaflets expalining how the network is set-up, time-tables, and zonal charging structure.

You buy Nol cards and add credit on it, swiping it every time you enter and exit a station.

There are separate carriages for Gold Class, Women, and then the regular Silver Class.

The station design is unique & quite cool. They are quite distinctive when viewed from outside, and can be identified against the heavily developed highway & buildings if you look carefully.

A large part of the metro runs parallel to the Shaikh Zayed highway bearing north to south.