With so much to see around the emirate, getting around Dubai is never a hassle for visitors or residents. Public transport in Dubai lets you explore the city within your budget and as per your convenience. Dubai public transport network is quite extensive, with multiple options ranging from taxi to metro, you can get around nearly all the prime metropolitan areas through Dubai’s public transport. Almost all of the options are fast, affordable, robust and hassle-free. This comprehensive guide on public transport in Dubai will help you make the most of this amazing facility.
Modes of Public Transport in Dubai
Discussed below are the popular modes of public transport in Dubai along with all their important details.
Dubai Metro
Dubai Metro is one of the most commonly used public transport for getting around the city. The metro network facilitates daily commuters across the city. It connects to all the prime residential and commercial districts as well as to major attractions in Dubai. Here is all you need to know about Dubai Metro.
Dubai Metro Stations and Routes
- Dubai Metro features 49 stations
- The 49 stations are established on different locations pinned on Metro’s two main routes: Red Line and Green Line
- The Dubai Metro stations are also functional on Dubai International Airport to facilitate visitors as soon as they arrive.
- Dubai Metro stations are accessible from Terminals 1 and 3.
- Tourists and visitors arriving at the airport can feasibly hop on to Dubai Metro and reach their destination anywhere within the emirate.
- Route 2020 is an extension to Dubai Metro Red Line that starts from Jebel Ali Metro station.
- Route 2020 links to seven new Metro stations and Expo 2020 Dubai Station.
- The rail network extends to other localities of the emirate that includes Discovery Gardens, Jumeirah Golf Estates, The Gardens, Dubai Investment Park and Al Furjan.
- The Route 2020 will also be connected to Al Maktoum International Airport in the near future.
A comprehensive set of information is provided on our blog on All about Dubai Metro, you can give it a read to know about the routes and stations.
Dubai Metro Features
Here are some of the useful features of Dubai Metro that facilitate passengers in different ways:
- Dubai Metro is an economical and driverless rapid transit system
- It is fully air-conditioned and have Wi-Fi enabled cabins
- It also features a separate cabin for women and children
- Also, the Metro has Gold class cabins (only accessible to NOL gold card holders) that are more spacious and comfortable
Dubai Metro Fares and Payments
All Dubai Metro fares are paid through a NOL card. There are four kinds of NOL Cards: Red, Blue, Silver and Gold and the fare depending on the route and zone. For instance
e, within one zone the basic fare on Silver Card is AED 3, Gold Card is AED 6, Blue Card is AED 3 and Red Card Ticket is AED 4.
Nol Cards
Dubai Public transport tickets are purchased in the form of NOL cards. The NOL cards are smart cards used for checking in and out on the respective public transport or on the platform. The amount is automatically deducted from the card based on your journey. Since there are four types of NOL cards, we have listed below the rates zone and card wise for your understanding:
Zone wise division | Silver Card Fare (AED) | Gold Card Fare (AED) | Blue Card Fare (AED) | Red Card Ticket (AED) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Zone wise division Within 1 Zone | Silver Card Fare (AED) 3 | Gold Card Fare (AED) 6 | Blue Card Fare (AED) 3 | Red Card Ticket (AED) 4 |
Zone wise division 2 Adjacent Zones | Silver Card Fare (AED) 5 | Gold Card Fare (AED) 10 | Blue Card Fare (AED) 5 | Red Card Ticket (AED) 6 |
Zone wise division More than 2 Zones | Silver Card Fare (AED) 7.5 | Gold Card Fare (AED) 15 | Blue Card Fare (AED) 7.5 | Red Card Ticket (AED) 8.5 |
Daily commuters can opt to register for a personalized blue NOL card. Thankfully, blue NOL cardholders, especially students, senior citizens, residents and social affair executives get up to 50% off on every trip using public transport. On the other hand, People of Determination (POD) and children get to travel for free.
Please note that these fare rates are not applicable to all modes of public transport in Dubai. Taxis and ride-sharing service provider apps have different fare scales. These commute options charge as per the distance you have covered.
Besides, Dubai public transport passes can also be purchased and added to NOL cards. These passes offer unlimited commutes on public buses, trams, metro and other public transport. The rates of passes vary zone wise and type of card you hold.
Buses in Dubai
Dubai’s transport network includes a huge fleet of 1500+ public buses, operating under the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). It is among the top modes of daily commute to work and a preferred option for visiting city attractions or going to Dubai malls via public transport.
Dubai Bus Routes
The RTA Dubai buses cover around 87% of the major areas of the city led by 62 internal lines, 8 fast lines, 35 lines linking to metro stations, 119 internal lines and a 12 inter-city bus line.
Dubai Bus Features
- The fully air-conditioned RTA buses in Dubai have a dedicated space for ladies.
- The buses in the emirate facilitate inter-city and intra-city commuting, both.
Dubai Bus Fares and Payments
Bus fares in Dubai are paid using NOL cards. The fare varies from your location to a specific destination. The minimum fare within one zone using a NOL card is AED 3.
Dubai Tram
Dubai Tram is an international standard public mode of transport in the emirate. This is the first electric tramway project, operating on an underground power supply. The initiation of tramway projects has helped minimize traffic congestion in the aforementioned areas.
Dubai Tram Routes
- Having 11 stations, the trams loop around prime hubs in New Dubai, entertainment spots as well as commercial districts
- It passes from Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR) and Dubai Marina towards Al Sufouh Road and then to Dubai Media City, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Pearl and Knowledge Village
- In addition, trams in Dubai are linked to Palm Monorail and Dubai Metro, facilitating commuters to reach their destination, seamlessly
Dubai Tram Features
- Trams are also completely air-conditioned and Wi-Fi enabled
- It features state-of-the-art seven compartments in each tram
- These compartments are divided into silver and gold class
- The gold class cabin is reserved for NOL gold card holders
- A silver class compartment is reserved for children and women only
Dubai Tram Fares and Payment
You can pay Dubai Tram fares using NOL cards only. The minimum fare charged is AED 3 on a Silver card. The breakdown of fare according to zone and card is detailed in the blog later.
Dubai Taxi
Taxis in the Emirate are operated by Dubai Taxi Corporation (DTC) and regulated by RTA. This is one of the most comfortable, but relatively expensive, modes of public transport in the city. The taxis in Dubai operate round the clock, every day, even on public holidays, and they can be found almost everywhere.
Dubai Taxi Features
- These are metered taxis and air-conditioned cars driven by professional drivers.
- Dubai taxis are also equipped with modern tracking devices to ensure each passenger’s safety and security.
Types of Dubai Taxis
The DTC runs several types of taxis in the city to facilitate everyone at every level. For example, you can choose from:
- Airport taxi
- Hatta taxi
- Limousine Taxi
- Ladies and Families Taxi
- SMS taxi service
- Public Taxi
- Taxi rental
- Mashaweer and Special Needs taxi
Dubai Taxi Fare and Payment
The meter reading starts at AED 6 in a public taxi between 6:00 am to 10:00 pm and after 10:00 pm from AED 7. You can pay Dubai taxi fare by cash as well as via credit/debit card and NOL card. Please note gold card members are charged regular fare.
Different Taxi Fare in Dubai
- Airport taxi: It is accessible from Dubai International Airport and the fare starts from AED 25. Also, AED 1.75 is charged per km.
- Hatta taxi: Its fare rates are fixed for a seven-seater taxi. Per passenger is charged AED 25.
- Ladies and Families taxi: The fare starts from AED 6. However, after 10:00 pm, each journey starts from AED 7 in the emirate.
- Special needs taxi: Its fares are not fixed. The starting fare is charged according to time and location.
Dubai Marine
RTA operates several different modes of marine transport. You can enjoy scenic views of the city while you head towards your destination, for leisure or work. The marine public transport in Dubai includes Dubai Abra, Dubai Water Taxi, Dubai Ferry and Dubai Water Bus.
Types of Marine Transport in Dubai
Dubai Abra is among the oldest modes of transport in the emirate. Both motorized and traditional abras operate on different routes.
Dubai Abra Fares
- The traditional motorized abra fare starts from AED 1 per trip and per passenger, paid via cash.
- The air-conditioned abra fare charges are from AED 2 per trip (one direction) and petrol heritage abra-creek ticket price is also AED 2.
- Petrol heritage abra-Dubai water canal fare prices are comparatively expensive, starting from AED 25 per hour/passenger and AED 300 per hour/charter.
- Petrol heritage abra-Dubai water canal fare charges are AED 2 per stop on the route of Al Wajeha Al Maeyah, Marasi, Sheikh Zayed Road.
- The electrical traditional Abra travels to and from the popular tourist destinations in Dubai. Therefore, its fare rates start from AED 68.25 per passenger. This amount is charged for a 25 minutes commute.
- This entire abra can be booked for AED 52.5 per trip for Global Village. The trip is about 12-15 minutes long.
Dubai Ferry has 5 different intracity routes and 1 intercity route. RTA ferries are completely air-conditioned.
Dubai Ferry Fares
The Dubai Ferry fare varies according to the route you choose.
- The Dubai Canal to Al Ghubaiba or Dubai Marina ferry servicing on FR1 route outside Water Canal have fares starting from AED 25 for Silver Class and AED 35 for Golden Class.
- The intercity Dubai ferry to Sharjah and vice versa operates on the FR5 route.
- The fare for a one-way trip from Dubai to Sharjah by ferry is AED 15 for Silver class and AED 25 for Gold class.
Dubai Water Taxi has 44 pick-up points across two different zones. Zone 1 encompasses areas between Dubai Marina and Palm Jumeirah. Zone 2 is between Creek and Dubai Water Canal. It operates every day from 10:00 am in the morning to 7:00 pm in the evening.
Dubai Water Bus only has 4 stops in Dubai Marina: Marina Mall, Marina Promenade, Marina Terrace and Marina Walk.
Dubai Water Bus Fares
The Dubai Water Bus fare varies, so for your convenience, we have listed the route wise fare charges below:
- Route Dubai Marina Walk – Marina Terrace (BM1): AED 3
- Route Dubai Marina Mall – Marina Promenade (BM1): AED 3
- Route Dubai Marina Walk – Dubai Marina Mall (BM1): AED 5
- Route Marina Promenade – Marine Terrace (BM1): AED 11
For all the marine commute options, you can pay the fare in cash, NOL card and credit/debit card.
Online Cab Services
Uber, Careem and Wow are three app-based cab services that cover all important routes in Dubai. These are listed among the top public transport apps in the city. Daily commuters and frequent travellers, as well as tourists, can plan their commute via any of the afore-mentioned ride-hailing apps. Also, these apps offer users the choice to select their preferred vehicle.
Careem Bike is a bike-sharing service, launched in collaboration with RTA Dubai. It is the first of its kind service in the Emirate that offers a 45-minute trip to registered members. Its stations are located in various areas of JLT, Dubai Marina, Dubai Media City, The Greens, Jumeirah, Canal, Downtown, Mankhool, Karama and Al Qudra.
Careem Bike Fares
Careem Bike fares are listed as under:
- One day: AED 20
- One week: AED 50
- One month: AED 75
- One year: AED 420
Overtime fees AED 10 is applied for every extra 30 minutes on trips longer than 45 minutes.
Dubai Public Transport Apps
Dubai public transport apps are vital for daily commuters as it allows them to plan accordingly. The public transport apps in Dubai provide all the details about the routes, timetables, fare, stations and all the relevant information about buses, trams, metro and other modes of public commute. Below discussed are the commonly-used Dubai public transport apps that facilitate seamless journey:
RTA Dubai App:
The RTA App is a mobile app for public transport in Dubai, powered by RTA (Roads and Transport Authority) itself. The app serves as the city’s guide featuring 40 distinct services. Through this RTA smart app, you can easily check the balance in your NOL card and top-up, and also view your previous trips and transactions.
Timetable for metro, tram, bus and other modes of public transport in Dubai is available on the app. With the taxi booking number on the app, you can book a taxi or through the taxi booking feature on the app. Moreover, emergency numbers, government services and weather forecasts can be viewed on the app to ensure safe driving. Besides, the app facilitates live chat with RTA agents, so that you can easily ask your queries on the go. Moreover, you can also get information related to new service timings for Eid Holiday announced by RTA.
S’hail App:
S’hail is another Dubai public transport app by RTA. You can route through all the public commute options from S’hail app. You can find out toll-gate fares, all the pinned stations and timings of buses, metro, tram and other public transportation, traffic information, estimated travel time from your location to destination and real-time traffic details. Besides, you can compare fares and estimated duration via different modes of transportation.
Also, managing your top-up NOL card, booking a luxury vehicle or taxi, planning inter-city bus trips, booking smart rental vehicles and ride-hailing cabs are all possible through S’hail app.
Guidelines for using Public Transport in Dubai
Below listed are some of the rules passengers need to adhere to when using public transport in Dubai. Failure in following the stated rules might result in paying heavy fines.
- Smoking, drinking and eating is strictly not allowed on any public transport.
- Do not litter or spit in and from the public transport’s window or gate.
- You cannot bring animals along, except for the guide dog for the visually impaired.
- Heavy luggage should not be carried along. Only one small suitcase and one large suitcase are allowed in Dubai Metro and Tram.
- Don’t ever try to use a counterfeit or expired card.
- Passengers are not allowed to use sound reproducing tools or equipment or play music.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT PUBLIC TRANSPORT IN DUBAI
What is the best way to get around in Dubai?
Almost all public commute options in Dubai are convenient, economical and modern. People pick according to their preference, budget and places they want to visit.
How do you pay public transport fare in Dubai?
Fare for most public transport options in Dubai is paid using NOL card. This card is applicable for fare payment of buses, trams, taxis, metro and marine transport.
Is Dubai Metro Expensive?
Dubai Metro fare starts from AED 3 and goes up to AED 7.5 on a silver NOL card. The fare rates are dependent on the distance you cover. However, blue NOL cardholders such as students, residents, social affairs executives and senior citizens enjoy up to 50% off on their journey.
Hopefully, these FAQs on public transport in Dubai may clear your doubts.
Besides, this guide on public transport in Dubai will assist you in planning your daily commute as well as occasional commute with friends, family and even alone in the city. You can easily choose the most suitable mode and move around in Dubai. However, if you wish to travel to any other Emirate like Abu Dhabi via the local bus, you can use the Abu Dhabi to Dubai bus service.
Besides, if you don’t find getting around in Dubai much convenient using public transport, you can then opt to buy a private car. You can easily choose from a large number of used cars in Dubai. Research and explore different options and you may end up purchasing the right one that fits your budget.
Some of the second-hand cars up for sale on dubizzle are of popular auto brands that include:
- Second-hand Audi for sale in Dubai
- Used Mercedez-Benz in Dubai for sale online
- Second-hand Toyota cars for sale online in Dubai
- Used Nissan in Dubai for sale
Stay tuned to UAE’s top auto blog for more information on different modes of intra-city and inter-city commute, traffic laws and more.
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