The Red Line is the main line of the Dubai Metro. It runs 35 stations from Centrepoint in the north, near Dubai International Airport, down Sheikh Zayed Road to two southern ends: Life Pharmacy and Expo 2020. It opened on 9 September 2009 and links the airport, Downtown, Business Bay and Dubai Marina on one route.
| Line name | Red Line |
| Colour | Red (#E30613) |
| Status | Operational |
| Opened | 9 September 2009; full core route 2010; Route 2020 branch to Expo City 2021 |
| Stations | 35 |
| Length | About 67 km, including the Route 2020 branch |
| Termini | Centrepoint (R11, north) to Life Pharmacy (R42) and Expo 2020 (R76, south) |
| Interchanges | Green Line at Union (R18) and BurJuman (R19); Dubai Tram at DMCC (R37) and Sobha Realty (R36), both a short walk; Blue Line at Centrepoint from 2029 |
| Operating hours | Monday to Thursday and Saturday 05:00 to midnight; Friday 05:00 to 01:00; Sunday 08:00 to midnight |
| First / last train | From Centrepoint: first about 05:00, last about 00:05 (01:05 on Friday). From Life Pharmacy: first 05:00, last about 23:50. From Expo 2020: first about 05:05, last about 23:48. Sunday starts later. |
Overview
The Red Line is the backbone of the network and the one most visitors use. It connects Dubai International Airport to Downtown and the coast in a single ride, so you can reach Burj Khalifa, the malls and Dubai Marina without changing trains. After National Paints (R38) the line splits: most trains run the Route 2020 branch to Expo 2020, while a separate shuttle covers the short branch to Life Pharmacy. The line carries the bulk of the network's riders, so trains run every few minutes at peak times and fill up fast around the airport, Downtown and Marina stops.
Main stations on the Red Line and what is at each
Centrepoint (R11) is the northern end, with free multi-storey park and ride and a bus station for the Mirdif and Al Rashidiya area. Airport Terminal 3 (R13) and Airport Terminal 1 (R14) put you straight into the arrivals halls at Dubai International. Union (R18) is the busiest station and the interchange to the Green Line for Deira and the Creek. BurJuman (R19) is the second Green Line interchange, for Bur Dubai. Burj Khalifa / Dubai Mall (R25) is the stop for the tower and the mall, reached by a long covered walkway. Mall of the Emirates (R32) serves the mall and Ski Dubai. DMCC (R37) and Sobha Realty (R36) each connect to the Dubai Tram on foot, for Jumeirah Lakes Towers and Dubai Marina. Ibn Battuta (R39) sits at the themed mall, and Expo 2020 (R76) is the southern end at Expo City.
- R11 Centrepoint
- R12 Emirates
- R13 Airport Terminal 3
- R14 Airport Terminal 1
- R15 Al Garhoud
- R16 City Centre Deira
- R17 Al Rigga
- R18 Union
- R19 BurJuman
- R20 ADCB
- R21 Max
- R22 World Trade Centre
- R23 Emirates Towers
- R24 Financial Centre
- R25 Burj Khalifa / Dubai Mall
- R26 Business Bay
- R29 ONPASSIVE
- R31 Equiti
- R32 Mall of the Emirates
- R33 InsuranceMarket
- R34 Dubai Internet City
- R35 Al Fardan Exchange
- R36 Sobha Realty
- R37 DMCC
- R38 National Paints
- R70 The Gardens
- R71 Discovery Gardens
- R72 Al Furjan
- R73 Jumeirah Golf Estates
- R74 Dubai Investment Park
- R76 Expo 2020
- R39 Ibn Battuta
- R40 Energy
- R41 Danube
- R42 Life Pharmacy
Fares and zones on the Red Line
Red Line fares depend on how many zones your trip crosses, not the number of stations. A Silver Nol card costs AED 3 within one zone, AED 5 across two zones, and AED 7.50 for three or more, per the RTA Nol fares page. The line runs through several zones: the airport and Deira sit in Zone 5, Downtown and Bur Dubai in Zone 6, the Sheikh Zayed Road stretch from Al Safa to Jebel Ali in Zone 2, and the far southern ends in Zone 1. So a short hop near the airport is AED 3, while end to end crosses the full set of zones at AED 7.50. Gold Class costs double on the Metro, and a personal Blue Nol card pays the same as Silver.
Red Line timings detail
Stations open at 05:00 from Monday to Saturday, with last trains around midnight, and stay open until 01:00 on Friday nights. Sunday starts later, at 08:00. First trains leave the ends close to opening time: about 05:00 from Centrepoint heading south, 05:00 from Life Pharmacy and about 05:05 from Expo 2020 heading north. Last trains run until roughly midnight on most nights and about 01:05 from Centrepoint on Fridays. Trains come every few minutes at peak times and stop 20 to 30 seconds at each station. The Life Pharmacy branch runs as a shuttle from National Paints, so for that branch you change at National Paints rather than riding straight through. Check the day before you travel on our timings page, since the RTA adjusts hours for Ramadan and public holidays.
If you are going to Expo City or Ibn Battuta, check the front of the train at the platform. After National Paints the line forks, and the Life Pharmacy branch is a short shuttle, not a through service. Getting on the wrong one means doubling back through National Paints, which adds 15 minutes.
Future plans and extensions
The Blue Line will meet the Red Line at Centrepoint when it opens on 9 September 2029, giving the northern end a direct link east to Mirdif, International City and Academic City, per Khaleej Times. The Blue Line project will grow the combined Metro and Tram network from about 101 km to 131 km by 2029, according to Gulf News. Further out, the planned Gold Line, announced in April 2026 for a 2032 opening, is reported to interchange with the Red Line at Business Bay and Jumeirah Golf Estates.
Tips for riders
Sit towards the front for Gold Class and the Women and Children carriage, or further back for Standard. For the airport, both Terminal 3 and Terminal 1 have their own stations, so check your terminal before you ride. Allow extra time at Burj Khalifa / Dubai Mall, where the covered walkway to the mall takes 15 to 20 minutes. Avoid the airport and Downtown stops at evening peak if you can, as trains fill quickly there. And keep enough on your Nol card for the longest leg, because end-to-end trips cross into the AED 7.50 band.
Dubai Metro Guide is independent and not affiliated with the RTA. Fares, timings and routes can change. Confirm current details with the RTA before you travel.