The Dubai Metro timings in 2026 are 5am to midnight from Monday to Thursday and on Saturday, 5am to 1am on Friday night, and 8am to midnight on Sunday. The same hours apply to the Red Line and the Green Line. A single trip costs AED 3 to AED 7.50 on a Silver Nol card, depending on how many zones you cross. Below you will find the hours, the fares, which Nol card to buy, the new phone tickets, and the 10 rules that get people fined.
We checked every time, fare and fine on the official RTA metro timetable and the RTA fares pages on 21 October 2026. Prices are for 2026 and can change, so treat them as approximate.
The week at a glance
Sunday gets three hours less metro
Opening hours of the Red and Green Lines in 2026. The axis shows the time from 4am to 2am.
Remember: Friday is the late night (to 1am), Sunday is the late morning (from 8am). Holidays and big events get special hours.
Source: RTA Dubai Metro timetable (rta.ae), checked 21 October 2026. The last train can leave some stations earlier.
What are the Dubai Metro timings in 2026?
| Day | First train | Last train |
|---|---|---|
| Monday to Thursday | 5am | Midnight |
| Friday | 5am | 1am (Saturday morning) |
| Saturday | 5am | Midnight |
| Sunday | 8am | Midnight |
Three things to keep in mind about the Dubai Metro timings:
- Sunday starts late. Trains begin at 8am, three hours later than other days. If you work on Sundays, plan for a taxi or bus before 8am. Our guide to the UAE Saturday and Sunday weekend explains why Sunday is now a rest day for most people.
- The last train is not the same at every station. The times above are for the stations as a whole. The last train from a station far from the end of the line can leave earlier, so do not cut it close.
- Special days have special hours. On New Year's Eve, Eid and big events, RTA often runs trains longer. On Sunday 1 February 2026, for example, trains started at 5am for the Dubai Marathon. RTA announces these hours on its website and social media a few days before.
The two lines and where they meet
The Red Line runs between Centrepoint and either Expo 2020 or Life Pharmacy, depending on the branch. It passes the airport, Downtown, Dubai Marina and Jebel Ali. The Green Line runs between e& and Creek, through the older parts of the city.
You change between the two lines at Union or BurJuman. You change to the Dubai Tram at Sobha Realty or DMCC. A third line, the Blue Line, is under construction. You can read what it means for your area in our article on the new Blue Line stations.
How much does the Dubai Metro cost?
Dubai Metro fares depend on how many zones your trip crosses. These are the official RTA fares in 2026, in AED:
| Trip | Silver card | Gold card | Red paper ticket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Within 1 zone | 3 | 6 | 4 |
| 2 zones next to each other | 5 | 10 | 6 |
| More than 2 zones | 7.50 | 15 | 8.50 |
The full table of Dubai Metro fares is on the RTA Nol fares page. Children aged 5 and under travel free. If you change from the metro to a bus within 30 minutes, it counts as one trip. Regular riders can also buy a 7-day pass on a Silver card: about AED 50 for 1 zone, AED 80 for 2 zones and AED 110 for all zones in 2026.
A 2-zone trip to work and back on 22 working days comes to about AED 220 a month. Our family budget for Dubai shows how transport fits into the full monthly cost of living.
Which Nol card should you buy?
The Nol card is the smart card you tap at the gates. It works on the metro, the tram, buses and the water bus. There are four options:
| Card | Price in 2026 | Credit included | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silver | AED 25 | AED 19 | Most residents and visitors |
| Gold | AED 25 | AED 19 | Gold Class cabins, at double the fare |
| Personal (blue) | AED 70 | AED 20 | Residents who want discounts or protection if the card is lost |
| Red paper ticket | AED 2 | None | A few single trips, up to 10 loads |
Our pick: for most people, the Silver Nol card is the right choice. If you are a student, a senior Emirati or a person of determination, get the Personal card for the lower fares. Card prices and benefits are listed on the RTA Nol card page. You can buy cards at any metro ticket office and top them up online, in the app or at the machines.
The new option: a QR ticket on your phone
Since October 2026, you can also pay Dubai Metro fares with a QR code on your phone instead of a paper ticket. Buy a single trip or a day ticket in the nol Pay or S'hail app. Hold the code face down over the blue reader at the metro gate. You can buy the ticket up to 90 days ahead. It becomes valid when you first use it and ends at midnight that day. You need mobile data to show the code, because it refreshes, so a screenshot will not work. This is the easiest choice for visitors on a short trip.
The fines ladder
A sip of water costs AED 100, vandalism twenty times that
The bars show each fine against the highest one (AED 2,000).
The costly everyday mistakes: alcohol in your bag (AED 500) and falling asleep in a station (AED 300). Both often happen by accident.
Source: RTA Dubai Metro rules and fines (rta.ae), checked 21 October 2026.
10 Dubai Metro rules to know (and the fine for each)
These rules and fines come from the RTA metro rules page. Metro police and inspectors check them every day.
1. Always tap in and tap out: AED 200
Travelling without a valid fare costs AED 200. Tap your card at the gate when you enter and again when you leave, so the system charges the right fare.
2. Use only your own card: AED 200
Using a card that belongs to someone else, such as another person's Personal card with a discount, is also AED 200.
3. No eating or drinking: AED 100
This includes a sip of water or coffee on the train or past the gates. Finish your drink before you go through.
4. Gold Class is for Gold card holders only: AED 100
Sitting in an area that is not for you costs AED 100. Gold Class is a separate cabin with wide leather seats.
5. Respect the women and children cabins: AED 100
Some cabins are only for women and children. Men who ride there can be fined AED 100. These cabins are clearly marked.
6. No smoking: AED 200
Smoking anywhere on the metro or in a station is AED 200. Do not use a vape either.
7. No sleeping in stations: AED 300
Sleeping in a station or a shelter costs AED 300, more than most other fines on this list.
8. No alcohol: AED 500
Carrying alcohol on the metro or in a station costs AED 500. This applies even to a closed bottle from duty free.
9. No pets: AED 100
Animals are not allowed, with one exception: guide dogs for blind people.
10. Keep it clean: AED 200
Spitting or littering costs AED 200. Damaging seats or equipment is far more serious: AED 2,000.
Two more points before you ride. You may bring two suitcases: one large (up to 81 x 58 x 30 cm) and one small (up to 55 x 38 x 20 cm). Children under 8 may not use public transport without an adult. For fines outside the metro, see our guide on how to avoid common fines in Dubai.
