Travel can take up a significant part of your budget in Dubai. Whether you’re travelling to work or school or planning a sightseeing trip, public transportation options can help you save costs while providing convenience.
Explore the beautiful landscape and the beaches around the city on one of the many public transport services in the city! Here is a comprehensive guide to the modes, fares and facilities offered.
Modes of Dubai Public Transport
The Roads and Transportation Authority (RTA) offers safe and hassle-free travel within the city. RTA Dubai offers public transport options, including buses, trams, metros, taxis and even boats.
Let’s check out each mode of transport in detail, along with the payment methods, fares and timings.
Public Buses
Public buses are a go-to choice for most people because of the low fares. Dubai has a vast network of buses covering 82% of the urban areas. The bus network operates on 119 internal lines, including lines linked to metro stations, intercity, internal, and fast lines. It is also one of the most used modes of public transportation, carrying 369,000 passengers daily.
Facilities
- Fully air-conditioned buses and waiting areas at bus stations
- Separate spaces for people of determination, women and families
- Information screens providing schedules are installed at all bus stops
- Bus stops have cafeterias, vending machines, e-card machines and NOL top-up machines
- Major bus stations have dedicated parking spaces
Bus Types
- Double-Decker
- Standard
- Articulated
- Metro link
Routes and Areas
Dubai buses cover a wide network, providing comprehensive access to the city’s key areas, ensuring you’re always well-connected.
Timings
Dubai buses operate from Monday to Sunday, from 04:00 a.m. to 01:00 a.m. (the next day). The only bus that operates round the clock is the C01 bus.
Payment Method
The public buses accept payment through NOL cards, a convenient and cost-effective way to pay for your public transport. You can obtain an NOL card from any metro station or authorised sales agent. Cash is not accepted on the buses.
Metro
Operating on Green and Red lines, the Dubai metro system is fully automated and luxurious. Here are all the details:
Facilities
- Wi-Fi and more than 3000 CCTVs to provide a safe environment
- Easily report any emergency using the Emergency Call Box (ECB) installed in each train and metro station
- Metro Police is available full-time
- Separate spaces to accommodate wheelchairs and people of determination
- Information screens to guide about the necessities
- Lifts at metro stations to facilitate commuters
Routes
- Red Line that connects Centrepoint (R11) and Expo 2020 (R 76) / UAE Exchange (R 42)
- Green Line that operates from Etisalat (G 11 ) to Creek (G 30)
Timings
Metros run after every few minutes. The metro stations operate from:
- 5:00 am to 12:00 am (Monday to Thursday)
- Friday: 5:00 am to 1:00 am (next day)
- 5:00 am to 12:00 am (Saturday to Sunday)
Payment Method
Purchase Dubai Metro tickets Using a NOL Card from the metro stations.
Dubai Tram
Another mode of public transport in Dubai is the tram linking Palm Jumeirah Monorail and Dubai Metro. The Dubai trams operate along Jumeirah Beach Road and AL Sufouh Road. They are the cheapest mode of travel across the city.
Facilities
- Wi-Fi and mobile coverage across the tram
- Tram police to keep a check
- Emergency call box
- Informative screens, lifts and wheelchair accesses
- Separate spaces for women and children
- Gold NOL ticket purchasers have a separate private space
Areas Covered
Dubai Tram operates from Al Sufouh and covers main areas like Marina Towers, Dubai Marina and Jumeirah Lake Towers. Currently, there are 11 tram stations in Dubai.
Timings
Trams operate at frequent intervals in Dubai, providing you with reliable and convenient travel options. Here are the timings:
- Monday to Saturday: 06:00 am to 01:00 am (next day)
- Sunday: 09:00 am to 01:00 am (next day)
Payment Method
Pay for tram tickets using your NOL card.
Fares of Bus, Metro and Tram
The fares of public transport in Dubai can vary depending on the type of NOL card you have and the zones of your journey. Here is how much you can expect to pay:
- Within 1 zone
- Ticket Price: AED 3 (Silver & Personal), AED 6 (Gold), AED 4 (Red)
- 2 Adjacent zones
- Ticket Price: AED 5 (Silver & Personal), AED 10 (Gold), AED 6 (Red)
- More than 2 zones
- Ticket Price: AED 7.5 (Silver & Personal), AED 15 (Gold), AED 8.5 (Red)
Dubai Taxi Service
Dubai Taxi Service (DTC) adds more convenience to the list of public transportation modes. The best part is that taxis are available at any corner of the city. Besides, Dubai has pink taxis reserved for females run by female drivers to provide safety. This mode of public transport is the heaviest on the pockets.
Booking
Easily book a DTC Taxi by calling +971 4 208 0808. You can also use Partner apps like Shai’l, Careem or UDrive. Street hailing is also a possible way to book a taxi.
Fares
Taxi fares can vary depending on how you book a taxi and the waiting times and peak hours. Refer to the table below to get an idea of an average fare:
| Service | Base Fare | Per KM Fare |
| Shai’l | AED 12 | AED 2.21 |
| Careem | AED 12 | AED 2.21 |
| Street Hailing (Day Time) | AED 5 | AED 2.21 |
| Street Hailing (Night Time) | AED 5.5 | AED 2.21 |
Timings
DTC is available around the clock all year round, making it a readily accessible public transport mode.
Payment Method
Use any of the following methods to pay for a taxi ride:
- Credit/Debit card
- Cash
- NOL Card
- Careem Pay
Marine Transport
The RTA Marine Service offers a convenient and affordable way to explore the beauty of Dubai. Here are the types of marine services available:
Dubai Abra
Dubai Abras carry passengers to let them explore the scenic view of Dubai Creek. Explore Dubai’s history with the wooden boats specially designed for it.
Ticket Price: Starting from AED 2 for a one-side trip
Dubai Water Taxi
Another safe way to travel by water is to use Dubai Water Taxi. They are well-conditioned and accessible to all passengers.
Ticket Price: Starting from AED 7, varies depending on the route and the number of stops.
Dubai Ferry
Choose Dubai Ferry to explore the beauty of Dubai. It runs from six ferry stations in Dubai.
Ticket Price:
- Al-Ghubaiba Station to Dubai Marina Mall
- Silver Class: AED 50
- Gold Class: AED 75
- Water Canal Marine Station
- Silver Class: AED 50
- Gold Class: AED 70
For children aged 0-5, the ticket price is free.
Payment Method
Pay for marine rides using cash, credit/debit card, or NOL card.
Dubai Public Transport Apps
Plan your journey around Dubai easily. Here are some of the public transport apps to make life convenient:
- NOL Pay
- DTC Smart App (Shai’l)
- RTA Dubai App
- RTA Wojhati
Fines on Breaking Rules
It is essential to be mindful of the rules; otherwise, heavy fines can be imposed.
- AED 100
- Using other’s NOL cards
- Selling NOL cards to any other person without getting permission
- Disturbing anyone during the commute
- Putting feet on public transport seat
- Only blind passengers are allowed to bring guide dogs along with them
- Eating or drinking in prohibited areas
- Up to two luggage bags are allowed on Dubai Tram and Metro
- AED 200
- Using an invalid NOL card
- AED 500
- Using counterfeit NOL card
FAQs
Using public transport in Dubai is convenient and the most cost-effective way to travel.
No, Dubai Taxis are expensive compared to the metro. Though Dubai Taxis are more convenient, they can pile up the costs, especially for longer commutes.
Metros can get crowded during peak hours, which are 7 am to 9 am and 5 pm to 8 pm.
This concludes all the information regarding Dubai Public Transport. The different public transport options in Dubai make it possible to navigate around the city at low costs.
Do you want to know more about the RTA Dubai services? You can check out our detailed guide.
