Board a Route 2020 branded train at Centrepoint, marked Expo 2020 on the front, and ride the full length of the Red Line to Expo 2020. Thirty stops on one train, roughly 65 minutes end to end.
30 stops, 0 changes at the interchange. The line colour shows which train you are on at each point.
For one or two people, the Metro wins on cost and predictability. For a family with luggage, or in a hurry, a taxi is door to door and skips the walk.
| Option | Cost | Time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metro | AED 7.5 (Silver Nol) | ~65 min | Cheapest, no traffic |
| Taxi | AED 105 to 154 | 41 to 60 min | Door to door, luggage, families |
This is the end-to-end Red Line trip, terminus to terminus. Board a Route 2020 (Expo 2020) branded train specifically at Centrepoint; the Life Pharmacy Track 2 service branches off at National Paints and does not reach Expo. Both are direct services since 15 April 2024 and terminate at their respective ends, so once you are on the right train it is a straight ride. Even though the trip crosses five zones on paper, the fare is capped at the top three-zone rate of AED 7.50 on a Silver Nol card.
Expo 2020 station is the southern terminus of the Red Line and sits at the front gate of Expo City Dubai, with a covered walkway from the platform into the public plaza around Al Wasl Dome.
For more on the area around Expo 2020, what is close by and worth a stop, see the Expo 2020 station guide.
No. The Route 2020 (Expo 2020) branch train runs straight from Centrepoint (R11) thirty stops to Expo 2020 (R76). Make sure the front of the train reads Expo 2020, not Life Pharmacy; the Life Pharmacy service branches off at National Paints (R38) and does not reach Expo.
The trip crosses five fare zones on paper (Centrepoint Zone 5, then Zone 6, Zone 2, Zone 3, Zone 1), but the Nol fare is capped at the top three-zone band. On a Silver Nol card it is AED 7.50, on a Gold Nol card AED 15, on a Blue personal card AED 7.50, and on a single-use Red ticket AED 8.50 plus AED 2 to buy the ticket itself.
About 65 minutes from platform to platform, including the short waits between stations. This is one of the longest single-line Metro trips on the network.
The Route 2020 branded train, marked Expo 2020 on the front. Both Route 2020 and Life Pharmacy direct services depart from Centrepoint and share the trunk until National Paints (R38); after that the Life Pharmacy service continues to Ibn Battuta and the Route 2020 train continues to Expo. Check the destination board before boarding.
Yes. Centrepoint has lifts to and from the platform, the Red Line trains have wide doors, and Expo 2020 is fully step-free with lifts to the plaza level. Boarding at the northern terminus makes finding space for bags easier.
Yes on the Metro by far. A taxi from Centrepoint to Expo 2020 is around AED 105 to 154 and 41 to 60 minutes depending on traffic, against AED 7.50 on the Metro. The Metro also avoids the Sheikh Zayed Road afternoon slowdown.
Yes. The Red Line runs above ground for most of the route, with the tallest tower cluster around Downtown clearly visible from the elevated section, and the Marina skyline from about R34 onwards. The trip is popular with first-time visitors doing a network overview.
The last Route 2020 train from Centrepoint towards Expo 2020 runs about 12:06 AM Sunday to Wednesday and 1:07 AM on Friday. Miss it and the only options back from Expo are taxis or the RTA night bus.