Dubai Airport Metro
All The Information You’ll Need About Dubai Airport Metro
Dubai’s Metro is a rapid rail transit system that has roughly 250 million passengers each year, and spans more than 55 miles taking people to stops around this major tourist destination – and that includes a station at Dubai International Airport where you can board a train.
If you’re planning a visit to the United Arab Emirates’ most populous city via a flight that lands at Dubai Airport, you may want to consider taking the Metro to complete the journey to downtown. That’s because the Metro is a clean, quick, air-conditioned and safe way to get between the two locations, and it’s cheaper either renting a car or taking a taxi to your hotel.
But luggage space can sometimes be limited on the Metro and, depending on the time of day that your flight lands, the train can also be somewhat crowded with fellow travelers.
Keep reading to discover all the crucial information you need to know about how to take the Metro from the airport to Dubai, the timing and cost, and other important facts.
Finding the Metro station at the airport
Before you can even look for the Metro, after your flight has arrived at the airport the first steps are getting through passport control and then retrieving your suitcases. Once you have done this, you can look for signs inside the airport terminal that will guide you toward the Metro station, or you can ask one of the airport staff members to give you directions.
Metro stations are available in Terminal 1 and Terminal 3, so if your flight lands at Terminal 2 you will need to transfer to either of the other terminals in order to board the Metro. Shuttle buses are available that can take you from Terminal 2 to either of the airport train stations, and they typically pick up every 20 minutes, so you may have a short amount of waiting time. Alternatively, you can walk between the terminals but this could take longer than riding the bus.
Dubai’s Metro system has two lines, called the Green Line and the Red Line, which stop at major tourist sites, near popular hotels and elsewhere, and the airport is on the Red Line.
Information about Metro train times
Metro does not run 24 hours a day, so if your flight ends up arriving very early in the morning then you might have to wait a few hours before you’re able to get on a train. If that happens, you could always take a taxi instead because these operate seven days a week, 24 hours a day.
The typical schedule for the Red Line at the airport is 5am to midnight Monday through Thursday, 5am until 1am every Friday, 5am until midnight on Saturday and 8am to midnight on Sunday. Metro sometimes stays open later during events such as public holidays.
It should take roughly 25 minutes for you to get from Dubai Airport into the city center when riding on Metro, although you may have to add a few minutes for waiting to board a train.
Buying your ticket to ride the Metro
You’ll need to purchase your ticket for riding the Metro before you get on the train, and you can do this at one of the vending machines that are located at the airport station.
The travel card you will buy is known as a Nol Card and for the Metro there are four different designations that you can choose from: red, blue, silver and gold. They range in price and have different restrictions, so it’s useful to learn about these before your trip.
- Red Nol Card: single-use disposable ticket
- Blue Nol Card: individual card for those with an Emirates-issued ID
- Silver Nol Card: valid for several years and you can reload it
- Gold Nol Card: grants users access to the Metro’s Gold Class section
For families that have young children, note that the Gold Class includes a large window at the front of the train that can be fun for them to look out during your ride into Dubai.
Luggage limits when taking the Metro
If you’re traveling with many bags and other items, then you might want to think about using another transportation option for making the journey from the airport to the city.
That’s because you are only allowed two pieces of luggage on the Metro; one can be a typical sized suitcase, the other must be smaller hand luggage, such as a bag that you would carry on to an airplane, so if you have many bags an oversized taxi could be a better choice.
Dubai Airport Metro FAQ
Where can I find the Metro station at the airport?
First you’ll need to disembark your flight, get through the passport check and then collect your bags, after which you can find stations in Terminal 1 and Terminal 3. There are signs in either terminal pointing the way to the station, or an airport staffer can give you directions.
If my flight has landed in Terminal 2, how can I get to either airport Metro station?
The airport provides a free shuttle bus that can transport you to either Terminal 1 or Terminal 2, where you can get on the Metro, and these buses pick up every 20 minutes on average.
Is it possible to use the airport Metro at all times of the day?
No, the Metro runs from 5.50am every day until midnight on most days, with no service outside of those hours. On Thursdays, trains operate starting at 5.30am and run until 1am, while on Friday they begin running at 1pm and then stop running at midnight.
How much luggage am I able to take when riding the Dubai Metro?
Each passenger that gets on the Metro at the airport can have one large suitcase and one piece of hand luggage. If you are traveling with more than this amount of baggage then you might want to consider another option for getting from the airport into the city.
What is the typical travel time from Dubai Airport to the city when using the Metro?
You may have to wait a few minutes at the Metro station in either Terminal 1 or Terminal 2 before a train arrives, and once on the train it should take 25 minutes to get to the city.
Where can I purchase my ticket in order to get the Metro at Dubai Airport?
You can find ticket machines within the two terminal train stations and you can use your credit or debit card to purchase your ride from the airport into Dubai.
How much will it cost to ride the Metro from the airport to the city center?
The exact cost of your fare will depend on the location of the station where you plan to get off the train, as well as the class of ticket that you decide to buy. But as a general guideline the cost for a single journey should be within the range of 3 to 8 United Arab Emirates dirhams.
Are there any things that I am not allowed to when riding the Metro?
Yes, there are fines that you could face for doing any number of prohibited activities, including putting your feet on the seats, drinking or eating in unpermitted areas, having animals on board the train with you unless they are guide dogs, and other restrictions.