Dubai Metro Red Line
The Red Line is the backbone of the Dubai Metro — one of the longest fully automated, driverless rail lines in the world. It sweeps about 52 km across the city, from Centrepoint in the east, past Dubai International Airport and through Deira, Downtown and the financial district, out to the Marina and on to Expo City Dubai. For most visitors it is the single most useful line in the city.
About the Red Line
🏆 A record-breaking line
When the Dubai Metro opened in September 2009 it entered the record books as one of the longest fully automated, driverless metro lines in the world, and the Red Line has always been its busiest and most important section. Trains run without a driver under a central control system, which allows very high frequencies and consistent reliability. For visitors this means you rarely wait more than a few minutes, and the line carries hundreds of thousands of passengers a day along the spine of the city — from the airport, past Downtown, all the way to the Expo site.
🗺️ A strategic east–west route
The Red Line is so useful because it strings together almost every place a visitor or commuter needs in a single ride. Starting in the east it serves Dubai International Airport (Terminals 1 and 3), runs through the hotels and business districts of Deira and the Trade Centre area, stops right beside the Burj Khalifa and The Dubai Mall, continues through the financial district and Business Bay, reaches the Mall of the Emirates with its indoor ski slope, and finishes among the towers of Dubai Marina and out at Expo City. Few metro lines anywhere connect this many headline destinations on one route.
🔀 The Route 2020 branch — read the train front
West of National Paints the Red Line splits into two. The original route continues to the Jebel Ali area, while a newer branch — built for Expo 2020 and known as Route 2020 — peels off to serve The Gardens, Discovery Gardens, Al Furjan, Jumeirah Golf Estates, Dubai Investment Park and Expo City. Because the line branches, not every train goes to every station at the far west end, so it is important to check the destination shown on the front of the train and on the platform displays before boarding. If you are heading to Expo City, look specifically for an Expo-bound service.
All Red Line Stations (35)
Listed in order from Centrepoint to Expo 2020. Tap any station for timings, fares and nearby attractions.