Dubai Metro Timings Today – Opening & Closing Times by Day
Complete Dubai Metro timing guide — first and last train times for every day of the week, Red Line and Green Line schedules, Ramadan hours, peak frequency, and everything you need to plan your journey without missing a train.
Mon–Thu: 05:30 – 00:00 (midnight)
Friday: 05:30 – 01:00 (next morning)
Saturday: 10:00 – 01:00 (next morning)
Sunday: 10:00 – 00:00 (midnight)
Both the Red Line and Green Line follow the same daily schedule. The metro does not run 24 hours. All journeys require a valid NOL card — no cash at fare gates.
Dubai Metro Timings – Full Weekly Schedule
Dubai Metro operates on a weekly schedule that adjusts for the UAE weekend (Saturday–Sunday) and Islamic Friday prayers. Weekdays (Monday to Thursday) have the earliest start time and longest daily operating window. Friday and Saturday nights run the latest to accommodate evening social activity. Saturday and Sunday mornings start late at 10:00 — plan accordingly if you need early-morning weekend travel.
| Day | First Train | Last Train | Daily Hours | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 05:30 | 00:00 | 18.5 hrs | Standard weekday |
| Tuesday | 05:30 | 00:00 | 18.5 hrs | Standard weekday |
| Wednesday | 05:30 | 00:00 | 18.5 hrs | Standard weekday |
| Thursday | 05:30 | 00:00 | 18.5 hrs | Standard weekday |
| Friday | 05:30 | 01:00 | 19.5 hrs | Extended night · Longest operating day |
| Saturday | 10:00 | 01:00 | 15 hrs | Late start · Extended night |
| Sunday | 10:00 | 00:00 | 14 hrs | Late start · Shortest operating day |
Red Line Timings – Centrepoint to UAE Exchange
The Red Line follows the standard RTA Dubai Metro schedule shown above. Trains run from Centrepoint Station (Rashidiya) in the east to UAE Exchange Station in the west — and in reverse — throughout all operating hours. The Red Line serves both Dubai Airport terminals (T1 and T3), making its opening time of 05:30 on weekdays critical for early-morning flights. Early departing passengers should note that the Saturday and Sunday 10:00 start means early weekend flights require alternative transport from the airport.
Green Line Timings – Etisalat by e& to Creek
The Green Line operates on the identical schedule as the Red Line — same first train time, same last train time, same daily operating hours across all seven days. Trains run between Etisalat by e& Station in the north and Creek Station in the south throughout all service hours. The two lines are synchronised at interchange stations Union and BurJuman to minimise transfer waiting times, particularly during peak commute hours.
Dubai Metro Train Frequency – How Often Do Trains Run?
Train frequency on the Dubai Metro varies by time of day and day of the week. During peak commute hours, trains arrive every 2–3 minutes on the Red Line — making it one of the most frequent metro systems in the region. During off-peak daytime hours the frequency reduces to every 4–7 minutes, and during late-night hours trains run every 8–10 minutes as passenger volumes drop.
| Time Period | Red Line Frequency | Green Line Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Peak Hours (07:00–09:00 / 17:00–20:00) | 2–3 minutes | 3–4 minutes |
| Off-Peak Daytime (09:00–17:00) | 4–6 minutes | 5–7 minutes |
| Evening (20:00–23:00) | 5–7 minutes | 6–8 minutes |
| Late Night (23:00–Close) | 8–10 minutes | 8–10 minutes |
| Weekend Daytime | 5–7 minutes | 6–8 minutes |
Dubai Metro Timings During Ramadan
During the Holy Month of Ramadan, RTA Dubai extends Dubai Metro operating hours to accommodate the change in daily routines — with later evening activity due to Iftar and Tarawih prayers. Historically, RTA extends closing time by approximately 1–2 hours beyond standard schedule on most days during Ramadan, and adjusts opening times to align with the pre-dawn Suhoor period. The specific Ramadan timetable is announced by RTA each year before Ramadan begins.
Dubai Metro Extended Hours – Public Holidays & Events
RTA regularly extends Dubai Metro operating hours during major public events, national holidays, and large-scale gatherings. UAE National Day (2 December), New Year's Eve, Dubai World Cup, and major concerts at Dubai venues typically see metro hours extended to 02:00 or beyond to manage increased passenger volumes and reduce road congestion. Extended hours are announced by RTA on rta.ae and official RTA social media channels — usually 2–5 days before the event.
🇦🇪 UAE National Day
Metro typically runs until 02:00 or later on UAE National Day (2 December) and UAE Commemoration Day (30 November) to handle large crowds and fireworks events.
🎆 New Year's Eve
Dubai Metro runs extended hours on New Year's Eve — historically until 03:00 or all night — to serve Burj Khalifa fireworks crowds at Downtown Dubai stations.
🎶 Major Events
Large concerts, sports finals, and expo events trigger extended metro hours. RTA coordinates with event organisers to provide last-train service after events conclude.
🕌 Islamic Holidays
Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha typically have adjusted timings — often extended late-night hours. Exact schedule announced by RTA before each holiday period.
NOL Card – Required Before You Board
Regardless of what time you travel on the Dubai Metro, a valid NOL card with sufficient balance is the only accepted payment at all fare gates. Cash, bank cards, and mobile wallets are not accepted at metro turnstiles. Ensure your NOL card has a minimum balance of AED 7.50 before approaching the fare gate — particularly important for late-night travel when metro TVMs at smaller stations may have reduced cash handling capacity.
Check your balance instantly before leaving home at nol.ae or on the NOL Pay app. If your balance is low, top up online in seconds — balance is available for use at the next gate tap.
How to Check Real-Time Dubai Metro Status
For live train positions, service disruptions, platform closures, or special event timing updates, RTA Dubai provides real-time metro status through several official channels. The S'hail app is the most comprehensive journey planning tool — it shows live train arrival times, platform information, service alerts, and alternative route suggestions during disruptions. The RTA Dubai Twitter/X account (@RTA_Dubai) posts real-time alerts about delays, closures, and extended hours faster than any other channel.
📱 S'hail App
RTA's official journey planner. Real-time train arrivals, service alerts, platform info, and multimodal route planning across Metro, Bus, and Tram.
🌐 rta.ae
Official RTA website. Metro timetables, special event hours, Ramadan schedule, and service disruption notices published here first.
𝕏 @RTA_Dubai
RTA's official X (Twitter) account. Fastest channel for real-time service alerts, delays, extended hour announcements, and event updates.
📞 800 9090
RTA helpline for metro timing queries, service disruption info, and NOL card issues. Toll-free within UAE during business hours.