HomeRoutesMall of the Emirates to Ibn Battuta
Dubai Metro route

Mall of the Emirates to Ibn Battuta by Metro

Total time
~25 min
At destination
Ibn Battuta
Stops
7 stops
Changes
0 at the interchange
Silver Nol
AED 3
Most common
Standard
Gold Nol
AED 6
Gold Class cabin
Blue Nol
AED 3
Standard; concessions vary
Red ticket
AED 4
Higher per-trip tariff

Board a Red Line train from Mall of the Emirates with Life Pharmacy on the front destination display, and ride seven stops direct through National Paints to Ibn Battuta. Since 15 April 2024 the Life Pharmacy branch is served by through trains, so no change is needed at National Paints.

From Mall of the Emirates to Ibn Battuta: every stop on the way

7 stops, 0 changes at the interchange. The line colour shows which train you are on at each point.

Red Line Board at Mall of the Emirates towards Life Pharmacy / Expo 2020
From a Dubai resident

Since 15 April 2024 RTA has run two direct Red Line services from Centrepoint, one to Expo 2020 and one to Life Pharmacy. Ibn Battuta sits on the Life Pharmacy branch, so board a Life Pharmacy service at Mall of the Emirates and it runs straight through National Paints and into Ibn Battuta without a change. Check the front destination display: an Expo 2020 service takes the other branch after National Paints and will not stop at Ibn Battuta.

After you arrive at Ibn Battuta

Ibn Battuta Mall is about 150 metres from the platform, reached on a covered footbridge that takes five to seven minutes on foot.

For more on the area around Ibn Battuta, what is close by and worth a stop, see the Ibn Battuta station guide.

Frequently asked

About this route

Do I need to change trains between Mall of the Emirates and Ibn Battuta?

No, if you board a Life Pharmacy service. Since 15 April 2024 the Red Line runs two direct services from Centrepoint, one to Expo 2020 and one to Life Pharmacy, so the Life Pharmacy branch is served by through trains rather than a shuttle. A Life Pharmacy train from Mall of the Emirates runs straight through National Paints to Ibn Battuta with no platform change.

How much is the fare from Mall of the Emirates to Ibn Battuta?

The trip stays inside one zone. 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. One of the cheapest mall-hopping trips on the network.

How long does the trip take?

About 25 minutes platform to platform, including the short waits between stations. The walk from Ibn Battuta station to the mall adds another five to seven minutes on the covered footbridge.

How many stops is it?

Seven stops on the Red Line, all on the southbound trunk and the start of the Life Pharmacy branch. In order, they are Mall of the Emirates, InsuranceMarket, Dubai Internet City, Al Fardan Exchange, Sobha Realty, DMCC, National Paints, Ibn Battuta.

Is Ibn Battuta station inside Ibn Battuta Mall?

No, but the mall is about 150 metres from the platform on a two-storey, covered, air-conditioned Metro Link walkway opened by Nakheel in August 2016. The walk takes five to seven minutes. The mall has six themed courts (China, India, Persia, Egypt, Tunisia and Andalusia) laid out in a single long line, so allow extra time to reach the far end.

Why does my train say Expo 2020 instead of Ibn Battuta?

Because the Life Pharmacy branch (where Ibn Battuta is) and the Route 2020 branch (where Expo 2020 is) split at National Paints (R38). If your train reads Expo 2020, it will take the Route 2020 branch and skip Ibn Battuta entirely. Get off at National Paints and cross the platform for the next Life Pharmacy service, which continues to Ibn Battuta.

Can I take a bus from Ibn Battuta to Abu Dhabi?

Yes. Ibn Battuta is the main intercity bus stop on this side of Dubai, with regular services to Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. The bus station is next to the Metro exit. Most RTA intercity buses take a Nol card.

Is this trip easier with a Silver card or a Red ticket?

A Silver Nol card. The Silver fare is AED 3 against AED 4 for the Red ticket trip itself, and the Red ticket also needs AED 2 to buy the paper card the first time. Unless you are riding once and only once, the Silver card pays back inside a single trip.