Board the Red Line towards Expo 2020 and ride twelve stops to Expo 2020, the southern terminus of the line.
12 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) | ~30 min | Cheapest, no traffic |
| Taxi | AED 61 to 90 | 21 to 31 min | Door to door, luggage, families |
Mall of the Emirates to Expo 2020 is the mall-to-mall trip along the western Red Line, twelve stops on one train marked Expo 2020 on the platform display. Board at the front of the train at MoE so you are closest to the Expo gate when you arrive. The 35 minute Metro ride beats the taxi by about a third in cost and matches it on time, with no Sheikh Zayed Road traffic risk.
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.
Expo City Dubai runs Al Wasl Dome shows, themed pavilions and seasonal events. Tickets and event passes sell out fast on winter weekends, so pre-booking saves the queue at the gate.
No. Through Route 2020 trains run from Mall of the Emirates (R32) all the way south to Expo 2020 (R76). One train, twelve stops, no platform change. Make sure to board a train marked Expo 2020 on the platform display, not one marked Life Pharmacy, which is a separate shuttle from National Paints.
The trip crosses the maximum three fare zones, so the fare lands in the top Nol 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 30 minutes from platform to platform, including the short waits between stations. The walk from the platform to the Expo City gate adds another three to five minutes.
Only if it is a Route 2020 service. The Red Line forks at National Paints (R38), where one branch runs west to Life Pharmacy and the other south on Route 2020 to Expo 2020. Trains marked Expo 2020 on the front and side displays run the full length without a change. Trains marked Life Pharmacy will not continue to Expo.
Yes. Mall of the Emirates has lifts to and from the platform, the trains have low floors and wide doors, and Expo 2020 station is fully step-free into the Expo City plaza. The trip is comfortable with bags.
No. A taxi from MoE to Expo City is around AED 61 to 90 and 21 to 31 minutes depending on traffic, against AED 7.50 on the Metro. The taxi is door to door, but the Metro saves around 87 per cent of the fare during operating hours and matches it on time.
Late afternoon and evening on event days at Expo City, and weekend mornings during the cooler season from October to April. Off-peak weekday mornings are the quietest. The Route 2020 branch from National Paints onwards is rarely full outside event days.
The Route 2020 branch closes earlier than the trunk. The last southbound service to Expo 2020 from Mall of the Emirates runs about 11:18 PM Sunday to Thursday and just past midnight on Friday and Saturday. After the Route 2020 last service, a taxi is the only way to Expo City.