The Dubai Metro is kept clean and orderly, and the rules are enforced by inspectors and cameras. Most are common sense, but a few catch visitors out, above all eating and drinking on the train and sitting in the wrong cabin. Fines run from AED 100 for minor breaches up to AED 2,000 for misusing emergency equipment. This guide covers the rules, the penalties, and how to stay on the right side of them.
The rules in brief
No eating, drinking or chewing gum on the train or platform, though you can eat in the station concourse before you tap in. Stand behind the yellow line, let passengers off before you board, and do not block the doors. Keep noise down, use headphones, and keep bags and feet off the seats. Offer priority seats to the elderly, pregnant women, People of Determination and parents with young children. Respect the marked cabins: the Gold Class cabin and the women and children cabin are for eligible riders only.
The fines
The RTA publishes the full list of Metro and Tram violations, with fines from AED 100 for minor breaches up to AED 2,000 for the most serious passenger offences, and as high as AED 3,000 for interfering with the tram on its tracks. The amounts are set out in the RTA Metro and Tram Fares, Fines and Etiquette brochure, and reported by Gulf News and Khaleej Times. The table below groups the common passenger penalties by amount, with the tram-track offences listed separately after it.
| Fine | Offences |
|---|---|
| AED 100 | Eating or drinking in prohibited areas; sitting in a reserved cabin without the right entitlement; putting feet on seats; misusing lifts or escalators; opening doors or boarding while the train is moving; boarding by climbing or jumping; bringing animals on board, except guide dogs; entering restricted or non-passenger areas; causing a disturbance to other passengers. |
| AED 200 | Fare evasion, or crossing fare zones without paying; not presenting a valid Nol card on request; using an expired, invalid or someone else's card; smoking, littering or spitting; ignoring an inspector's instructions; selling or promoting goods without RTA approval; distracting the driver. |
| AED 300 | Sleeping in metro shelters or restricted areas. |
| AED 500 | Carrying alcohol on board; using a counterfeit Nol card. |
| AED 1,000 | Carrying dangerous or flammable materials. |
| AED 2,000 | Damaging metro property, or misusing emergency exits or safety equipment. |
Park-and-ride is charged separately: overstaying the allowed time costs AED 100 per day, up to a maximum of AED 1,000.
Tram track fines
Because the tram runs at street level, the RTA sets separate, higher penalties for anyone on or near the tracks. These apply to pedestrians, cyclists and drivers as much as passengers, and they reach further than the fines above.
| Fine | Offence |
|---|---|
| AED 500 | Throwing, or causing the throwing of, waste onto the tracks. |
| AED 1,000 | Crossing the tracks anywhere other than a designated crossing; unauthorised access to prohibited zones. |
| AED 2,000 | Interfering, or attempting to interfere, with the tram's operation or safety. |
| AED 3,000 | Unauthorised interception of the tram on the tracks. |
The ones that catch visitors out
The eating and drinking rule surprises people most, because it starts at the gate, not the train. A coffee or an open water bottle on the platform counts, so finish drinks in the concourse before you tap in. The cabin rule is the next: the women and children cabin is the first one, marked pink, and the Gold Class cabin is at the very front, so the same end of the platform holds both. The third is forgetting to tap out, which can see you charged the maximum fare for the trip.
Prohibited items
Some items are not allowed in stations or on trains at all. These include weapons and sharp objects, flammable or hazardous materials, and alcohol. Animals are not allowed either, with the exception of guide dogs for passengers who need them. Large or bulky loads that block aisles or doors can also be refused. If you are unsure about an item, check with RTA staff before you travel.
The single most common first-day fine is a half-finished drink. Inspectors do board at random, and a sealed bottle in your bag is fine, but a coffee in your hand on the platform is not. Bin it or finish it before the gate, and you avoid the AED 100 in one step.
How to avoid a fine
Keep food and drink for the concourse, not the train. Check the cabin markings before you board, and move to a Standard cabin if you are not eligible for Gold Class or the women and children cabin. Keep enough on your Nol card to clear the gate, and tap out at the end so you are charged the right fare. Mute your phone, keep bags off the seats, and follow staff instructions. For getting started, see how to use the Dubai Metro, and to keep enough credit on your card, see how to check your Nol card balance.
How to pay or appeal a fine
If an inspector issues a fine, you can pay it on the spot, online through the RTA website, or at an RTA Customer Happiness Centre, using the fine number on your notification. If you think a fine is wrong, you can appeal within 30 days of the date on the notification. Email ask@rta.ae with the subject "Fine appeal" and the fine notification number, and attach a copy of the notification, your Nol card or ticket number, and, if you are on a visit visa, a copy of your visa, entry stamp and passport. The process is set out in the RTA Fares, Fines and Etiquette brochure.
Dubai Metro Guide is independent and not affiliated with the RTA. Rules and fines are set by the RTA and can change. Confirm current details with the RTA before you travel.