The Red Line is the backbone of Dubai’s public transport network — running the length of Sheikh Zayed Road and connecting the airport corridor to the business district to the marina. Here’s the complete, current timing, fare, and station breakdown for 2026.
Table of Contents
Red Line Trip Planner
(Interactive tool below — select your origin and destination to get instant journey time and fare)
Red Line Journey Time & Fare Estimator
Step 1: Tap your From station
Step 2: Tap your To station
Est. journey time
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Stations crossed
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Silver Nol fare
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Gold Class fare
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Journey time is an estimate based on average 2.5 min/station. Always confirm live timing via the RTA app.
Red Line Operating Hours 2026
| Day | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Monday – Thursday | 05:00 AM | 12:00 AM (midnight) |
| Friday | 05:00 AM | 01:00 AM (next day) |
| Saturday | 05:00 AM | 01:00 AM (next day) |
| Sunday | 08:00 AM | 12:00 AM (midnight) |
Weekday Timing
The Red Line runs the standard network-wide hours Monday through Thursday, opening at 05:00 AM and running until midnight.
Friday & Saturday Extended Hours
Both Friday and Saturday get an extra hour of service, closing at 01:00 AM the next day rather than midnight — useful for late dinners along Sheikh Zayed Road or a night out at Dubai Mall.
Sunday Late Start
Sunday is the exception across the whole network: the first train doesn’t depart until 08:00 AM, three hours later than every other day.
Red Line First & Last Train — Full Station List
Rashidiya to UAE Exchange (Full Route)
The Red Line’s official terminal is Centrepoint (the station formerly known as Rashidiya), running the length of Sheikh Zayed Road to UAE Exchange. Full station sequence:
Centrepoint → Max → GGICO → Deira City Centre → Union Station (interchange) → BurJuman Station (interchange) → ADCB → Max 2 → Financial Centre → Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall Station → Business Bay → Onpassive → Equiti → Mall of the Emirates → Mashreq → Dubai Internet City → Al Khail → Sobha Realty → DMCC → Jebel Ali (branch interchange) → Ibn Battuta → Energy → Danube → UAE Exchange
Structural note: From Jebel Ali, the line splits into two branches — one continuing to UAE Exchange, the other running to Expo City Dubai. Check your train’s destination display before boarding west of Jebel Ali if you’re heading to either endpoint specifically.
First & Last Train Timing
- First train: 05:00 AM (Monday–Saturday), 08:00 AM (Sunday) — departing simultaneously from both Centrepoint and UAE Exchange terminals.
- Last train: Full outbound journeys depart the terminal stations around 11:00 PM (Monday–Thursday and Sunday) and midnight (Friday–Saturday), timed so trains clear the tracks before the network’s official closing hour.
If you’re planning a late-night trip, don’t cut it close to the network’s closing time itself — a terminal-to-terminal ride takes the better part of an hour once you factor in all 24 stops, so the last usable train for your specific station is earlier than the system’s overall closing hour.
Red Line Peak vs Off-Peak Frequency
| Period | Time Window | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Peak (AM) | Mon–Fri, 07:00 AM – 09:30 AM | Every 3–4 minutes |
| Peak (PM) | Mon–Fri, 04:30 PM – 08:00 PM | Every 3–4 minutes |
| Off-peak | All other hours | Every 7–8 minutes |
The Red Line’s peak frequency is tight enough that waiting isn’t usually the issue during rush hour — carriage crowding through the Financial Centre and Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall stretch is the more common complaint from regular commuters.
Red Line Fare Zones & Nol Pricing
| Zones Crossed | Silver Nol | Gold Class |
|---|---|---|
| Within 1 zone | 3.00 AED | 6.00 AED |
| 2 adjacent zones | 5.00 AED | 10.00 AED |
| 3 or more zones | 7.50 AED | 15.00 AED |
Since the Red Line spans the entire Sheikh Zayed Road corridor, a Centrepoint-to-UAE Exchange trip crosses multiple fare zones and lands at the top tier. Use the trip planner above to check the exact fare for your specific stations, and make sure you check your Nol balance before a long cross-zone journey — gates reject insufficient balance with no grace period.
Red Line Interchange & Landmark Stations
Union Station (Red/Green Interchange)
Union Metro Station is your switch point to the Green Line if you’re heading into Deira or Bur Dubai — one of only two interchange stations on the entire network.
BurJuman Station (Red/Green Interchange)
The second interchange point, BurJuman Metro Station, consistently sees some of the network’s highest footfall — worth avoiding during peak hours if you’re just passing through.
Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall Station
The Red Line’s biggest tourist-traffic stop — see the Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall Station guide for exit numbers and walking directions to the mall entrance.
Mall of the Emirates Station
A second major retail anchor further down the line, serving the Mall of the Emirates and Ski Dubai.
Red Line Airport Connection
The Red Line doesn’t run directly through the airport terminals themselves — for airport connections, check the full Dubai Metro timing guide for the Green Line’s airport-adjacent stations and connecting routes, and the Green Line schedule if your journey requires a transfer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time does the Red Line’s first train depart?
05:00 AM Monday through Saturday, and 08:00 AM on Sunday, from both Centrepoint and UAE Exchange terminals.
What time is the last Red Line train?
Full terminal-to-terminal departures run around 11:00 PM on Monday–Thursday and Sunday, and midnight on Friday–Saturday — timed to clear the tracks before the network’s official close.
Does the Red Line split into two branches?
Yes — from Jebel Ali, the line branches toward UAE Exchange on one side and Expo City Dubai on the other. Check your train’s destination display before boarding if you’re heading past Jebel Ali.
How much does a full Red Line trip cost?
A cross-zone trip spanning the length of the line falls into the top fare tier at 7.50 AED on Silver Nol, or 15.00 AED on Gold Class.
Where do I switch to the Green Line from the Red Line?
At either Union Station or BurJuman Station — both are dual-line interchange points.
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