Board any southbound Red Line train from Centrepoint and ride seven stops to Union. Both the Life Pharmacy and Expo 2020 branch services stop at every trunk station, so the first train that arrives is the right one.
7 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 3 (Silver Nol) | ~20 min | Cheapest, no traffic |
| Taxi | AED 35 to 51 | 18 to 26 min | Door to door, luggage, families |
Centrepoint is the northern terminus, so boarding is always at the front of the platform and there is almost always a seat. The Red Line runs above ground from Centrepoint through the airport stops and dips underground just before Al Rigga, so the view flips from open desert light to the tiled underground station in the last two minutes of the trip. Same zone throughout, so it is the cheapest Red Line seven-stop trip on the network at AED 3 on a Silver Nol card.
Union is the central Red and Green Line interchange, one block from Union Square and a short walk from the old Deira souks, the Etisalat headquarters and the northern end of the creek.
For more on the area around Union, what is close by and worth a stop, see the Union station guide.
No. The Red Line runs straight from Centrepoint (R11) seven stops south to Union (R18). Any northbound Red Line train from Centrepoint, whether marked Life Pharmacy or Expo 2020, stops at Union. One train, no platform change.
The trip stays inside a single fare zone (both stations are in Zone 5). On a Silver Nol card it is AED 3, on a Gold Nol card AED 6, on a Blue personal card AED 3, and on a single-use Red ticket AED 4 plus AED 2 to buy the ticket itself.
About 20 minutes from platform to platform, including the short waits between stations. Off-peak the ride is quicker as the trunk stops are shorter.
Between Al Garhoud (R15) and City Centre Deira (R16). From City Centre Deira south to BurJuman, every Red Line station sits below ground. The line comes back up at Emirates Towers on the south side of the underground stretch.
Yes. Union is the primary Red-to-Green interchange and the change happens inside the paid area. Follow the signs from the Red Line concourse down to the Green Line platforms; no second Nol tap.
Yes. Centrepoint has lifts to and from the platform, the Red Line trains have wide doors, and Union is fully step-free with lifts to both line levels. Boarding at a terminus makes finding space for bags easier.
No. A taxi from Centrepoint to Union is around AED 35 to 51 and 18 to 26 minutes depending on traffic, against AED 3 on the Metro. The Metro also avoids the Al Ittihad Road afternoon slowdown.
Weekday morning peak into Union, and weekday evening from Union back to Centrepoint as commuters head to the Al Rashidiya residential streets. Weekends are quieter on the northern end of the Red Line.
The last southbound train from Centrepoint towards Life Pharmacy runs about 12:02 AM Sunday to Wednesday and 1:03 AM on Friday. The Expo 2020 branch service closes a few minutes later.