Dubai Metro timings vary by day, line and station, so the last train that works for one journey may not be the last service from your stop. Whether you are travelling today, planning for tomorrow or catching a late connection, check the Red or Green Line schedule before you set out.
Below, find the regular Dubai Metro timings, practical guidance on last-train planning and the quickest way to confirm your exact journey, including whether you still have time to make it.
⚡ Key takeaways
- Check RTA or S'hail on the day: event, holiday and maintenance changes can affect service.
- Regular service usually starts around 5 AM; Sundays typically begin later, around 8 AM.
- Last-train times depend on your station, direction and interchange, not simply network closing time.
- Allow 15 to 20 minutes before the final departure for platforms, ticket gates and interchange walks.
- Union and BurJuman connections may finish earlier than the last trains on individual lines.
- Keep your Nol card topped up and plan a taxi, bus or alternative station for late journeys.
Dubai Metro Timings for Today and Tomorrow (Updated for 2026)
All times shown in Dubai local time (GMT+4).
Today's window is set by the day of the week. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday run the standard 5:00 AM to midnight timetable. Friday closes an hour later at 1:00 AM Saturday morning. Sunday opens three hours later at 8:00 AM. The panel above updates in Dubai local time and shows the current window and closing time.
Metro timings may vary around major occasions, maintenance and crowd-management measures. Check RTA channels before leaving, particularly for early or late trips, and allow extra time for transfers, station access and onward connections. The Dubai Metro's published operating hours are the starting point, but real-time service updates matter most every day.
Metro timings by day of the week
The RTA operates one network-wide timetable, so the hours are the same at every Red and Green Line station on any given day. The direction-specific first and last train times differ by terminus and appear in the tables below.
| Day | Metro operating hours | Key timing notes |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 5:00 AM to 12:00 AM | First Red Line train from Centrepoint towards Expo 2020: 5:02 AM. Last train: 12:06 AM Tuesday. Green Line from Etisalat by e& starts at 5:01 AM, with the last train at 12:22 AM. |
| Tuesday | 5:00 AM to 12:00 AM | Same operating hours as Monday. Trains run every few minutes during peak periods, roughly 7:00 to 9:30 AM and 5:00 to 7:30 PM, and up to about 7 minutes apart off-peak. |
| Wednesday | 5:00 AM to 12:00 AM | Standard weekday timetable with no scheduled variation from Monday or Tuesday. |
| Thursday | 5:00 AM to 12:00 AM | Standard weekday timetable. Thursday evenings can be busier around Dubai Marina and Downtown Dubai, but closing times remain unchanged. |
| Friday | 5:00 AM to 1:00 AM Saturday | Metro runs one hour later than other days. Last Red Line train from Centrepoint towards Expo 2020: 1:07 AM Saturday. |
| Saturday | 5:00 AM to 12:00 AM | Last trains from the northern termini run at roughly 11:52 PM to 12:23 AM, depending on the line and direction. |
| Sunday | 8:00 AM to 12:00 AM | Sunday has the latest general opening time. The first Red Line train from Centrepoint towards Expo 2020 departs at 7:32 AM, as some terminus departures begin before the general 8:00 AM station opening window. |
Note: These are the general Dubai Metro operating hours. Actual first and last train times vary by station, line and direction, so check the Red Line and Green Line timetable tables below for your specific journey.
Dubai Metro Red Line: First and Last Train Times
The Red Line has two southern endpoints because the line forks at National Paints (R38): one branch runs to Expo 2020 on the Route 2020 spur, the other runs to Life Pharmacy through Ibn Battuta, Energy and Danube. Since 15 April 2024 both branches are served by direct trains from Centrepoint at the northern end, marked Expo 2020 or Life Pharmacy on the front of the train.
| From | Towards | First train | Last train |
|---|---|---|---|
| Centrepoint (R11) | Expo 2020 | 5:02 AM (Mon to Sat) 7:32 AM (Sun) | 12:06 AM (Mon to Wed) 12:03 AM (Thu, Sat, Sun) 1:07 AM (Fri) |
| Centrepoint (R11) | Life Pharmacy | 5:00 AM (Mon to Sat) 7:38 AM (Sun) | 12:02 AM (Mon to Wed) 12:07 AM (Thu, Sat, Sun) 1:03 AM (Fri) |
| Expo 2020 (R76) | Centrepoint | 5:08 AM (Mon to Wed, Sun) 5:02 AM (Thu, Fri) 5:00 AM (Sat) | 11:48 PM (Mon to Wed, Sat, Sun) 11:49 PM (Thu, Fri) |
| Life Pharmacy (R42) | Centrepoint | 5:00 AM daily | 11:52 PM (Mon to Wed, Sun) 11:51 PM (Thu, Fri) 11:48 PM (Sat) |
Dubai Metro Green Line: First and Last Train Times
The Green Line runs end to end between Etisalat by e& in the north and Creek in the south, with no branches. It meets the Red Line at Union and BurJuman, where you can change without paying a second fare.
| From | Towards | First train | Last train |
|---|---|---|---|
| Etisalat by e& (G11) | Creek | 5:01 AM daily | 12:22 AM (Mon to Wed, Sun) 12:23 AM (Thu to Sat) |
| Creek (G30) | Etisalat by e& | 5:03 AM daily | 12:23 AM (Mon to Wed, Sun) 12:25 AM (Thu to Sat) |
How often trains run
Trains come every few minutes at peak times, with longer gaps off-peak and late at night. Peak hours on the Red Line are around 7:00 to 9:30 AM and 5:00 to 7:30 PM, when both lines fill up around the airport, Downtown and Marina stops. Outside those hours the trains are quieter and you can almost always find a seat.
Trains stop at each station for 20 to 30 seconds. Since 15 April 2024 RTA has run two direct services from Centrepoint: Track 1 to Expo 2020 through the Route 2020 branch, and Track 2 to Life Pharmacy through Ibn Battuta, Energy and Danube. Both share the trunk and split at National Paints, so check the front destination display before boarding a southbound train. A Life Pharmacy service will not reach Expo 2020, and an Expo 2020 service will not stop at Ibn Battuta or the three stations beyond.
Last train and Dubai Metro journey planning
The last train from your station is not simply the network closing time. It depends on your station, your direction of travel and, if you are changing lines, the last connection at Union or BurJuman, which can run earlier than the final train on either line alone.
When does the last Metro run today?
Last train times depend on the day of the week and the direction:
- Monday to Thursday and Saturday: last trains from the northern termini run between about 11:52 PM and 12:23 AM the following morning. Last trains from the southern ends reach the far end by about midnight.
- Friday: the last train from Centrepoint towards Expo 2020 runs at 1:07 AM Saturday morning. All other Friday last trains fall between about 12:23 AM and 1:03 AM.
- Sunday: last trains match Monday to Thursday at the late end. Sunday's 8:00 AM start does not shift the closing time.
Exact per-station last-train times are in the Red Line and Green Line tables above. For the closing time on the specific day and direction you need right now, the timings today panel gives the current window in Dubai local time, and the RTA S'hail app is authoritative for the exact minute.
Check your journey before you travel
Before you leave, use the official S'hail app or the RTA journey planner to check your exact route from your starting station to your destination. Enter both locations rather than relying on a familiar line name alone. The planner shows your direction of travel, interchange stations, walking time and the last practical connection for your trip.
Check live service information again shortly before you travel, particularly on public holidays, during special events or late at night, as operating hours can occasionally change.
Make sure your Nol card has enough balance before you enter the station. Metro fares are based on the number of zones travelled, and a low balance can delay you at the gates.
If your trip involves changing between the Red and Green Lines, follow the interchange and direction signs inside the station rather than exiting through the ticket gates. A journey across more than one line still counts as one continuous trip if you complete the transfer within the permitted interchange time.
What if you miss a train?
During normal operating hours, missing a train usually just means a short wait. Check the platform display or journey planner for the next departure and adjust your arrival time.
Trains run less often early in the morning, late at night and outside peak periods, so build in extra time if you have a tight connection, such as an airport check-in, coach departure or reservation.
If waiting for the next train would make you significantly late, one option is to continue by Metro to a convenient station and take a taxi for the last leg. In busy areas such as Downtown Dubai or Dubai Marina, this can be faster than leaving the Metro immediately and travelling the whole distance by road. For destinations further from a Metro station, an RTA bus can also offer a lower-cost connection.
What if you miss the last train?
If you miss the last Metro of the night, you'll normally need to continue by night bus, taxi or ride-hailing service. RTA runs a limited overnight bus network on selected corridors, using the same Nol card system as its other public transport.
Taxis run around the clock across Dubai, and many Metro stations have taxi ranks or pickup points nearby. Careem and Uber also cover the whole city.
If you're travelling to or from the airport, always check the last train for your specific station and direction rather than relying on the Metro's general closing time. The final departure from Airport Terminal 3, for example, can run later than the published network closing time, because trains already in service continue to their destination. Once Metro service has ended, the official taxi ranks outside each terminal are usually the simplest option.
For airport trips and other time-sensitive journeys, build in a sensible buffer for platform walks, interchange time, queues and the final leg from the station. The best route isn't always the fastest one shown on screen. It's the one that still works if you miss a train or hit a short delay.
Last train checklist
- Check the final departure for your exact station, direction and date, not just the network closing time.
- Allow extra time at Union and BurJuman when changing lines, especially in the evening.
- Arrive on the platform 15 to 20 minutes before the advertised final train.
- Remember Friday runs later and Sunday opens later, though its closing time is unchanged.
- Plan your final-mile journey: feeder buses may stop earlier and taxis can be busier after events.
Ramadan and public holidays
Dubai Metro's regular timetable is often adjusted around religious and public holidays. The RTA usually announces changes a few days ahead on the S'hail app and its social channels, and station displays give the most immediate updates once you're travelling.
Ramadan
During the holy month of Ramadan, the RTA usually extends late-night Metro hours and adjusts the schedule around Iftar and Suhoor. The exact times are announced each year close to the start of Ramadan, so check the live RTA sources before a late-night trip during that month.
Public holidays and major events
On UAE public holidays, the Metro usually runs longer hours. National Day on 2 December, the two Eid holidays and New Year's Eve tend to see the biggest late-night extensions, with trains running well past the usual last departure.
New Year's Eve is the busiest example. Stations around Downtown Dubai, Business Bay and other celebration areas can reach capacity, with entrances temporarily restricted or closed to manage crowds. Plan to arrive early, expect a walk after leaving the station, and have an alternative station in mind.
Large exhibitions, concerts, sporting fixtures and conferences can also affect service and station access, and can lengthen the walk between a station and the venue. Connecting buses, taxis, ride-hailing pick-up points and parking may follow different arrangements from the Metro, so check these separately.
Event and holiday travel checklist
| Travel situation | What may change | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Eve | Extended service; entry restrictions and pedestrian diversions near celebration areas. | Station accessibility, an alternative station, extra walking time. |
| Eid, National Day and other official breaks | Revised operating hours or special arrangements. | Official Metro information on the day, not a previous year's schedule. |
| Exhibitions, concerts, sporting fixtures, conferences | Service, station access and crowd controls; longer walks to venues. | Current service notices and accessibility of your intended station. |
| Late-night travel after an event | A later final train, but crowded stations or changing access. | Don't rely on the final advertised train alone; keep a backup route. |
| Connecting transport | Buses, taxis, ride-hailing and parking may differ from Metro hours. | Pick-up points and parking separately from Metro timings. |
Keep your Nol card topped up and build in a buffer during busy periods. RTA channels and station announcements are the most reliable source on the day.
Live sources and updates
For the exact minute on the day you travel, the official RTA website and the S'hail journey planning app are the live sources. We update this page when the RTA changes its standard timetable, but the live app is always the safer bet for a marginal last-train decision.