Board any northbound Red Line train from Sobha Realty and ride fifteen stops to Union. Both the Life Pharmacy and Expo 2020 branch services stop at every trunk station on the way north, so the first train that arrives is the right one.
15 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) | ~35 min | Cheapest, no traffic |
| Taxi | AED 69 to 101 | 27 to 40 min | Door to door, luggage, families |
Sobha Realty sits at the DMCC-JLT edge, so any northbound Red Line train works, both Life Pharmacy and Expo 2020 branch services stop here on the way north. The Marina crowd fills the trains from Sobha Realty north to about R32, then it thins out through the Downtown offices and picks up again briefly at BurJuman before Union. Fifteen stops on one train, roughly 35 minutes at AED 7.50 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. Any northbound Red Line train from Sobha Realty, whether marked Life Pharmacy or Expo 2020, continues north from Sobha Realty and stops at Union (R18). One train, no platform change.
The trip crosses the maximum three fare zones (Sobha Realty Zone 2, then Zone 6, then Zone 5 at Union). 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 35 minutes from platform to platform, including the short waits between stations. Peak morning and evening runs a few minutes slower on the underground stretch through Downtown.
Between Emirates Towers (R23) and BurJuman (R19), and again from BurJuman through Union. From BurJuman north to City Centre Deira, every Red Line station sits below ground.
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. Sobha Realty 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.
No, much cheaper on the Metro. A taxi from Sobha Realty to Union is around AED 69 to 101 and 27 to 40 minutes depending on traffic, against AED 7.50 on the Metro. The Metro also avoids the Sheikh Zayed Road afternoon slowdown.
Weekday morning peak inbound as Marina and JLT commuters head into Deira and Bur Dubai, and weekday evening on the reverse. Fridays are quieter on morning inbound and busier from mid-afternoon.
The last northbound train from Sobha Realty towards Centrepoint runs about 12:10 AM Sunday to Wednesday and 1:11 AM on Friday.