Dubai Metro Red Line: Stations, Route and the Fork
The Red Line is Dubai Metro’s main route, running about 52 kilometres from Centrepoint in the north to UAE Exchange and Expo City in the south, with 35 stations. It serves the airport, Downtown and Dubai Marina, and interchanges with the Green Line at Union and BurJuman. The line forks near its southern end, so check which branch your train takes before boarding.
- Check the destination on the train, the line forks in the south.
- Change at Union or BurJuman for the Green Line.
- Allow about 25 minutes from the airport to Downtown.
The Red Line at a glance
The Red Line follows Sheikh Zayed Road for most of its length, which means it connects nearly everything a visitor or commuter needs in a single ride: the airport, the old city, Downtown and the Marina.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Stations | 35, including the Expo branch |
| Length | About 52 kilometres |
| Northern end | Centrepoint |
| Southern ends | UAE Exchange and Expo City Dubai |
| Green Line interchanges | Union and BurJuman |
| Airport connection | Direct, serving the terminals |
At 52 kilometres this is one of the longest driverless metro lines anywhere, and it is entirely grade separated from the roads. That is why it beats a taxi along Sheikh Zayed Road at almost any hour, and comprehensively so during the peaks.
Key stations along the route
Rather than list all 35 stations, these are the ones that matter for orientation and for the journeys people actually make.
| Station | Useful for |
|---|---|
| Centrepoint | The northern terminus, in Al Rashidiya |
| Airport terminals | Direct access to Dubai International |
| Union | Green Line interchange, and intercity buses |
| BurJuman | Green Line interchange, Bur Dubai |
| Burj Khalifa / Dubai Mall | Downtown, the tower and the mall |
| Dubai Marina area | Marina, JBR and the southern residential belt |
| Ibn Battuta | Intercity buses to Abu Dhabi |
| Jabal Ali | Where the line splits toward the two southern branches |
Two of these are worth remembering as connection points rather than destinations. Union is the hub for intercity buses to Ajman, Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah, and Ibn Battuta is where the E101 and E102 leave for Abu Dhabi. Both let you switch from metro to intercity coach without a taxi in between.
As a distance benchmark, the ride from the airport terminal to Burj Khalifa / Dubai Mall takes about 25 minutes, which gives you a feel for how quickly the line covers ground.
The fork: UAE Exchange or Expo City
This is the part of the Red Line that confuses people, and it is worth being precise about. The line does not run as a single continuous route to one terminus. In the south it divides, and trains go to one of two different endpoints.
| Branch | Where it goes | Splits at |
|---|---|---|
| Original Red Line | Continues to UAE Exchange | Jabal Ali area |
| Route 2020 branch | Runs to Expo City Dubai | National Paints |
The Route 2020 branch was built for the 2020 World Expo and has stayed on as a permanent part of the network, serving areas south of Sheikh Zayed Road. Because both branches share the same line for most of their length, a train that looks right for the first twenty stations may still take you to the wrong place at the end.
The practical rule is simple: if you are travelling south beyond the Jabal Ali area, read the destination shown on the train and the platform indicator rather than just boarding the next Red Line service. If you are travelling north, or getting off before the split, it makes no difference at all.
Changing to the Green Line
There are exactly two places where you can change between the Red and Green Lines, and both are in the older part of the city.
| Interchange | Area | Also useful for |
|---|---|---|
| Union | Deira | Intercity buses to several emirates |
| BurJuman | Bur Dubai | Shopping and the Bur Dubai district |
Because there are only two interchange points, plan your change deliberately. If you are heading from the Marina to Deira on the Green Line, you will be changing at Union or BurJuman regardless, so pick whichever is closer to your final stop. Full details are in our Dubai Metro Green Line guide.
Timings and fares
The Red Line follows the same hours as the rest of the network, with a notably later start on Sundays.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Monday to Thursday and Saturday | 05:00 to midnight |
| Friday | 05:00 to 01:00 |
| Sunday | 08:00 to midnight |
| Fares | AED 3 to AED 7.50 by zone |
| Payment | Nol card |
Full details of hours, the four Nol card types and holiday changes are in our Dubai Metro timings guide. If you land after the metro closes, the 24-hour C1 bus is covered in our Dubai airport bus routes guide.
Frequently asked questions
How many stations are on the Dubai Metro Red Line?
There are 35 stations across the main line and the Expo branch, covering about 52 kilometres. The line runs from Centrepoint in the north to UAE Exchange and Expo City Dubai in the south.
Why do some Red Line trains go to different places?
The line forks in the south. The original route continues to UAE Exchange, while the Route 2020 branch splits off at National Paints and runs to Expo City Dubai. Check the destination shown on the train if you are travelling beyond the Jabal Ali area.
Where does the Red Line meet the Green Line?
At two stations only: Union in Deira and BurJuman in Bur Dubai. Union is also a hub for intercity buses to several emirates, which makes it the more useful of the two if you are continuing outside Dubai.
How long is the metro from the airport to Downtown?
About 25 minutes from the airport terminal to Burj Khalifa / Dubai Mall station on the Red Line. Because the metro is fully separated from road traffic, that time holds up even during the rush hour when a taxi would take considerably longer.
Last verified: October 2026 against RTA published metro information
Written by Roman Shah ยท Reviewed by the UAEexplained editorial team
Source: Roads and Transport Authority (RTA)
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