This guide is for a first-time visitor landing at Dubai International Airport (DXB) who wants to reach a hotel, see the main sights, and get back to the airport without a car. It takes you from arrivals to your first ride in one page.
Sort two things first: a way to pay, and the direction of your train. Buy a Silver NOL card or a QR ticket at the airport station, then check the terminus name on the platform screen before you board. For the general background, start with our guide Your Guide to Metro Travel in the UAE: Tips, Cost, Documents. This page adds the arrival walkthrough, the card choice, the first ride steps, a one day itinerary, and etiquette.
Landing at DXB and your first Metro ride
Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 each have a Red Line station: Airport Terminal 1 and Airport Terminal 3. From arrivals, follow the red Metro signs; the walk takes 5 to 8 minutes. Terminal 2 has no Metro station, so take a bus to the nearest Red Line station or a taxi.
Buy your card or ticket at the airport station before you head into the city. Machines and counters sell NOL cards, and the nol Pay or S’hail app sells QR tickets. If you land late, check the closing hours below first, because a late arrival can leave the taxi as the only option. Dubai Airports also publishes Metro directions for DXB on its transport page.
- Follow the red Metro signs from arrivals, about 5 to 8 minutes on foot from Terminal 1 or Terminal 3.
- Buy a Silver NOL card or a QR ticket at the station, and keep it for the whole trip: you tap it in and out.
- Check the platform screen for the terminus in your direction. For Downtown, Business Bay, Mall of the Emirates and the Marina, board a train towards Expo 2020 or Life Pharmacy. For Deira and the city centre, board towards Centrepoint.
- Tap in at the gate, board, and tap out at your destination. The fare is worked out from the zones you cross.
Luggage rule: RTA allows a maximum of 2 bags per passenger: one large suitcase up to 81 x 58 x 30 cm and one small bag up to 55 x 38 x 20 cm. Pack to that limit, because oversized luggage can be refused.
NOL card or QR ticket: which to buy
A Silver NOL card costs AED 25 including AED 19 of travel credit, and it is the best choice for most visitors: the lowest fare on every trip, and it works on the Metro, tram and RTA buses. A Gold NOL card also costs AED 25 including AED 19 of credit, but it pays Gold Class fares, double Silver, so buy Gold only to ride in the Gold Class cabin. Card prices here are corroborated by guides citing RTA, not read directly on the RTA fares page.
A Red Ticket costs AED 2 and is a paper ticket for one or two trips. A QR ticket is the phone option: buy it in the nol Pay or S’hail app. QR tickets launched 9 Oct 2026, and a QR single trip costs more than the same Red Ticket trip, so use QR when you have a phone and no card, and use Silver when you will ride more than once. A Blue NOL card is for residents, not practical for a short visit, because it is a personal card with registration. Children aged 5 and under travel free on the Metro, tram and bus, and they do not need a NOL card.
| Option | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Silver NOL card | AED 25 including AED 19 credit | Most visitors |
| Red Ticket | AED 2 | One or two trips |
| QR ticket (nol Pay or S’hail app) | Per trip, in app | Phone, no card |
| Gold NOL card | AED 25 including AED 19 credit | Gold Class only |
- Minimum balance: at least AED 7.50 on a Silver or Gold card and AED 3.50 on a Blue card, or the gates will not open.
- Tap in and tap out on every trip: both taps are mandatory, and the fare is charged on the zones crossed.
- Top up at station machines, in the nol Pay or S’hail app, or at other RTA sales points before your balance runs low.
Compare card types in our Silver NOL Card, Gold NOL Card, and Dubai Nol Card Types and Benefits guides. QR fares are as reported by Emirates 247 on 9 Oct 2026, reproducing the RTA schedule. Re-check on rta.ae before travel.
The two lines in plain words
Dubai Metro has 53 distinct stations: 35 on the Red Line and 20 on the Green Line, with Union and BurJuman shared by both lines. For any trip, you need two things: the line, and the terminus the train is heading for.
The Red Line runs from Centrepoint in the east, past the airport, through Downtown and Business Bay, then past Mall of the Emirates and the Marina. Its termini are Centrepoint, Expo 2020 and Life Pharmacy. The line splits at National Paints, so check the destination board: Expo 2020 trains take the Route 2020 branch, and Life Pharmacy trains stay on the trunk. Before National Paints, either train works.
The Green Line serves Old Dubai, Deira, Bur Dubai and the Creek, with termini e& and Creek. Change between lines at Union or BurJuman. See the full network on our Dubai Metro Map page, and read the Union Metro Station guide for the busiest interchange.
- Read the terminus name on the platform screen, not the line colour alone: towards Expo 2020, towards Life Pharmacy, towards Centrepoint, towards e&, or towards Creek.
- On the wrong branch after National Paints, get off at the next station and change.
- If unsure, check the S’hail app for live departures and the right platform.
Fares in one table
A Metro fare depends on the zones crossed, not on distance or stops. A Silver card pays AED 3 for one zone, AED 5 for two zones and AED 7.50 for more than two zones. Gold pays double Silver. The table below covers the four ways a tourist usually pays.
| Card or ticket | 1 zone | 2 zones | More than 2 zones |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silver | AED 3 | AED 5 | AED 7.50 |
| Gold | AED 6 | AED 10 | AED 15 |
| Red Ticket Regular | AED 4 | AED 6 | AED 8.50 |
| QR Regular | AED 6 | AED 8 | AED 10.50 |
QR fares are as reported by Emirates 247 on 9 Oct 2026, reproducing the RTA schedule. Re-check on rta.ae before travel. The gate display is final.
The 30 minute transfer rule: tap out of the Metro, tram or bus and tap into another mode within 30 minutes on the same NOL card, and it counts as one continuous journey charged on the total zones crossed. You can make up to 3 transfers inside a 180 minute window. Price any trip before you travel with our Dubai Metro Fare Calculator, and read the full fare tables on our Metro Fares page.
A first day by Metro
One day, in Metro order, starting at the airport, using only stations and modes covered in this guide.
- Airport to hotel. Take the Red Line from Airport Terminal 1 or Airport Terminal 3 towards Expo 2020 or Life Pharmacy. Most hotels in Downtown, Business Bay and the Marina sit near a Red Line station. Drop your bags first: the luggage rule allows a maximum of 2 bags per passenger.
- Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall. Ride the Red Line to Burj Khalifa / Dubai Mall station and follow the signs to the mall. From Airport Terminal 3 this is a 2 zone trip, AED 5 on a Silver card.
- Old Dubai. Take the Red Line to BurJuman, change to the Green Line towards e&, and get off at Al Ras for the Deira side, including the Gold Souq, or at Al Ghubaiba for the Bur Dubai side. Cross the creek on the traditional abra: AED 1, cash only, about 5 minutes.
- Marina and JBR. Take the Red Line to Sobha Realty or DMCC, then change to the Dubai Tram: the Dubai Marina stop connects with Sobha Realty, and the Jumeirah Lakes Towers stop connects with DMCC. A Tram only trip is a 1 zone trip, AED 3 on a Silver card.
- Getting back. Check the last train from your station before dinner, and keep the taxi option in mind if you stay out past midnight.
Through the day: keep your Silver card topped up: every leg is a separate tap in and tap out, and a change of mode inside 30 minutes counts as one journey under the transfer rule above.
Metro etiquette and fines
The Metro is quiet, clean and orderly, and the rules are enforced. Use only the cabin your ticket covers, keep food and drink for outside the station, and tap in and out on every trip.
- Gold Class cabin: for Gold card and Gold ticket holders only. A Silver card does not cover it.
- Women and Children cabin: reserved for women and children. Other passengers must use the standard cabins.
- No eating or drinking on the Metro or in stations.
- Tap in before you board and tap out at your destination: a missed tap can mean a fare evasion fine.
- Luggage: maximum 2 bags per passenger, one large suitcase up to 81 x 58 x 30 cm and one small bag up to 55 x 38 x 20 cm.
| Fine | Amount |
|---|---|
| Fare evasion | AED 200 |
| Eating or drinking where prohibited | AED 100 |
| Wrong cabin (Gold or Women and Children) | AED 100 |
These fine amounts come from the RTA 2022 brochure on Metro and Tram fares, fines and etiquette, as reported in guides. They were not read directly on a current RTA page, so re-check with RTA before travel.
When the Metro is closed and what to do instead
First train is 5:00 am Monday to Saturday and 8:00 am on Sunday, and service ends at midnight except Friday, when it ends at 1:00 am. Friday starts at 5:00 am like other weekdays; Sunday is the late start. Service end is when the last trains finish, not when they leave. Hours change on public holidays, and RTA announces those a few days before.
| Day | First train (both lines) | Service ends (both lines) |
|---|---|---|
| Monday to Thursday | 5:00 am | Midnight (12:00 am) |
| Friday | 5:00 am | 1:00 am (next day) |
| Saturday | 5:00 am | Midnight (12:00 am) |
| Sunday | 8:00 am | Midnight (12:00 am) |
See our Dubai Metro Timings guide for last train times. Late arrivals are taxi only once the Metro has closed. A street hail taxi flags at AED 5 in the day and AED 5.50 at night, about AED 2.19 per km, minimum fare AED 12. The airport flag is AED 20 per RTA 2026 fares, while Dubai Airports pages still say AED 25, so expect either figure at the airport rank. A taxi from DXB to Downtown costs about AED 50 to AED 80. See our Local Transport page for more options when the Metro is closed.
Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) has no Metro yet. Buses F55 to Expo 2020 and N55 to Ibn Battuta run about every 30 minutes. A taxi from DWC to Downtown costs about AED 100 to AED 150.
Before you land: visa orientation
Check whether you need a visa before you book, using the official checkers: ICP, GDRFA Dubai, u.ae, and Visit Dubai. The rules depend on your nationality, your passport, and the purpose of your visit, and they change, so no guide can decide eligibility for you.
Use the official tourist visa page on u.ae and the checker for your own nationality before you travel. This page is general travel information, not immigration or legal advice: no fees, no country list, and no promise about any application.
Check twice: visa rules change frequently, so check the official sources above before you book, and check again before you travel. If a third party site asks you to pay for a visa status check, use the free official check instead.
Frequently asked questions
The answers below use the same facts as the guide above, checked 2026-11-10.
Do I need a NOL card or can I pay by phone?
You can pay by phone: buy a QR ticket in the nol Pay or S’hail app and scan it at the gate. QR tickets launched 9 Oct 2026, and a QR single trip costs AED 6, AED 8 or AED 10.50 for one, two, or more than two zones. A Silver NOL card is cheaper per trip at AED 3, AED 5 or AED 7.50, so buy one at the airport station if you will ride more than once. Both work on the Metro, tram and RTA buses.
Which Metro station is at Dubai Airport?
Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 each have a Red Line station: Airport Terminal 1 and Airport Terminal 3, both 5 to 8 minutes on foot from arrivals, following the red Metro signs. Terminal 2 has no Metro station: take a bus to the nearest Red Line station or a taxi. Buy your NOL card or QR ticket at the airport station before you head into the city.
How much is a Metro ride for a tourist?
On a Silver card, AED 3 for one zone, AED 5 for two zones, and AED 7.50 for more than two zones. A Red Ticket costs AED 4, AED 6 or AED 8.50 for the same tiers, and a QR ticket costs AED 6, AED 8 or AED 10.50. Gold Class costs double Silver. Fares depend on the zones crossed, not distance, so price any trip on our Fare Calculator before you travel.
Can I take luggage on the Metro?
Yes, within the RTA limit of 2 bags per passenger: one large suitcase up to 81 x 58 x 30 cm and one small bag up to 55 x 38 x 20 cm. Pack to that limit, and keep bags out of doorways and out of the Gold Class and Women and Children cabins unless your ticket covers them. With more luggage than the limit allows, take a taxi from the airport instead.
What time does the Metro stop running?
Service ends at midnight from Monday to Thursday and on Saturday and Sunday, and at 1:00 am on Friday. First trains run from 5:00 am Monday to Saturday and from 8:00 am on Sunday. Service end is when the last trains finish, not when they leave, so the last departure from your station is earlier. If your flight lands after the Metro has closed, take a taxi.
Is the Metro safe and easy for first-time visitors?
Yes. The Metro runs on two lines with 53 distinct stations, so most first trips need no change of train. Buy a Silver card at the airport station, check the terminus name on the platform screen before you board, and tap in and out on every trip. If unsure, check the S’hail app for live departures and journey plans.
Fares, hours and station names on this page were checked 2026-11-10 against the official RTA rail network map (published 2026.09.25) and the RTA Nol Fares page. Verify on rta.ae before you travel. The gate display is final.
