Dubai Metro fines run from AED 100 to AED 2,000. The ones people actually get are small but common: AED 100 for eating or drinking past the gates, AED 100 for sitting in a cabin meant for someone else, and AED 200 for travelling without a valid fare. Sleeping where it is banned costs AED 300.
The full list below comes from the RTA’s Dubai Metro page, which uses the same penalty table for the metro, tram and buses. Metro police and RTA inspectors enforce it.
Quick answer: Eating or drinking AED 100. Wrong cabin AED 100. No valid fare AED 200. Smoking AED 200. Sleeping AED 300. Alcohol AED 500. Weapons or hazardous items AED 1,000. Damage or misuse of emergency equipment AED 2,000.
Dubai Metro fines at a glance
These are the fines most riders need to know.
Offence | Fine |
Eating or drinking where it is not allowed | AED 100 |
Sitting in a cabin for a specific group (Gold Class, women and children) | AED 100 |
Putting feet on seats | AED 100 |
Causing a disturbance to other passengers | AED 100 |
Bringing animals (guide dogs excepted) | AED 100 |
Misusing lifts or escalators | AED 100 |
Travelling without paying the fare | AED 200 |
Using an expired, invalid or someone else’s card | AED 200 |
Smoking | AED 200 |
Spitting or littering | AED 200 |
Sleeping where sleeping is banned | AED 300 |
Using a counterfeit card | AED 500 |
Carrying alcohol | AED 500 |
Carrying weapons, sharp tools or flammable items | AED 1,000 |
Damaging or vandalising seats or equipment | AED 2,000 |
Using emergency exits or safety devices without need | AED 2,000 |
Fare and ticket fines
Most fare fines are AED 200. RTA groups six offences at that level:
- using the metro, or entering or leaving a fare area, without paying the fare
- failing to show your nol card when an inspector asks
- using a card meant for someone else
- using an expired card
- using an invalid card
- selling nol cards without RTA permission
A counterfeit card is AED 500.
“A card meant for someone else” catches more people than you would expect. A Blue (personal) nol card with a student or senior discount belongs to its owner. If a parent borrows a child’s student card, that is a fine. The same goes for a People of Determination card. Our student nol card guide explains who qualifies for the discount.
Gates also need a minimum balance. RTA says you need at least AED 7.50 on your card to enter the metro. You won’t be fined for a low balance, but you won’t get through the gate either. A quick nol card balance check before you leave home avoids that.
Tap in and tap out every time. An unpaid trip is an AED 200 fine.
Can you eat or drink on the Dubai Metro?
No. Eating and drinking are banned in areas where they are not allowed, which in practice means everything past the ticket gates: platforms, trains and paid concourses. The fine is AED 100.
That includes water, chewing gum and a sip of coffee. In summer it is tempting to drink on the platform, but inspectors do fine people for it. Finish your drink before you tap in.
RTA does not publish a written exemption for children or medical needs. If someone in your group may need to eat or drink, speak to station staff before boarding rather than assuming it is allowed.
During Ramadan, the rule stays the same all day. If iftar time arrives while you are on a train, wait until you exit to eat.
Is sleeping on the Dubai Metro a fine?
Yes, in the right circumstances. RTA’s table lists AED 300 for sleeping in passenger shelters or any place where sleeping is prohibited. This mostly targets people sleeping on station benches or in waiting areas, not someone dozing for two stops on the way home.
That said, the wording is broad. Lying across seats, or sleeping on station floors, is the kind of behaviour inspectors act on. If you are tired on a long Red Line ride, sitting upright is fine; stretching out is not.
Gold Class and women’s cabin fines
Accessing or sitting in areas designated for specific categories is AED 100. On the metro that means:
- Gold Class without a Gold nol card or Gold ticket
- the women and children cabin, if you are a man
The floor markings on each platform show where these cabins stop. Most fines here happen because someone is in a hurry and jumps into the nearest door. Look down before you board. Full details on prices and who can sit where are in our Gold Class and women’s cabin guide.
Behaviour and safety fines
These are less common, but larger.
AED 100
- entering restricted areas against posted signs
- standing or sitting in non-passenger areas
- boarding by climbing or jumping
- opening or trying to use doors while the train is moving
- carrying items that may inconvenience or endanger others
AED 200
- selling or promoting goods on board
- ignoring instructions from inspectors or RTA staff
- using public transport against posted signs
- distracting or obstructing a driver (more relevant on the tram and buses)
AED 500
- carrying alcoholic drinks, even sealed ones
AED 1,000
- carrying hazardous items: weapons, sharp tools, flammable materials
AED 2,000
- damaging, vandalising or destroying seats or equipment
- using emergency exits or safety devices when there is no emergency
The alcohol rule surprises visitors most. A sealed bottle bought at duty free is still “carrying alcohol”. If you are coming from DXB with a bottle in your bag, take a taxi.
Luggage and pets
Luggage. RTA allows two suitcases per passenger: one large one up to 81 × 58 × 30 cm and one small one up to 55 × 38 × 20 cm. Bags must go in the luggage area of each cabin. Oversized items are not listed with a specific fine, but they can fall under “materials that may inconvenience users” (AED 100), and staff can refuse entry.
Animals. Bringing animals is AED 100. Guide dogs for blind passengers are the only exception.
Parking fines at metro stations
If you use the park-and-ride car parks at Centrepoint, e& or National Paints, there is one more fine to know. Parking beyond the permitted period costs AED 100 per day, up to AED 1,000.
The free period depends on using the metro and leaving within 60 minutes of your last trip. The full rules are in our free metro parking guide.
Rules for children
RTA has a separate policy on children travelling alone:
Age | Rule |
Under 8 | Not allowed on public transport without an adult |
8 to 11 | Allowed with a permit issued by a parent (not on intercity buses) |
12 and over | Allowed to travel alone |
Children aged 5 and under ride free with an adult. Older children pay the normal fare, so each needs their own card.
Tram-specific fines
The Dubai Tram uses the same table, plus extra fines for the tracks, which run at street level:
- throwing waste on the tracks: AED 500
- crossing the tracks outside designated areas: AED 1,000
- unauthorised entry into prohibited zones: AED 1,000
- interfering with tram operations or safety: AED 2,000
- stopping a tram on the tracks without authorisation: AED 3,000
These are listed on RTA’s Dubai Tram page. Our Dubai Tram guide covers the route.
How to pay or dispute a metro fine
Inspectors issue fines on the spot. RTA lists public transport fine services on its website and in the RTA Dubai app, so start there to check or pay one.
If you think a fine is wrong, for example a gate failed to read your card, raise it through RTA’s customer feedback channel or the Mahboub chat on rta.ae, and keep any receipt or screenshot of your top-up. A card history showing a clean tap-in and tap-out is the strongest evidence you can bring.
Process details change, so check the current steps on rta.ae before you rely on a deadline.
Mistakes that lead to fines
- Drinking water on the platform. The most common fine, and the easiest to avoid.
- Boarding the nearest door. That door is often Gold Class or the women’s cabin.
- Using a family member’s personal card. Student and senior cards are for the owner only.
- Walking through an open gate without tapping. If the gate doesn’t read your card, the trip can look unpaid.
- Carrying duty-free alcohol. Sealed bottles still count.
Fines matter less than they seem if you remember the first two, which account for most of what newcomers pay.
Frequently asked questions
What is the fine for eating on the Dubai Metro?
AED 100. RTA bans eating and drinking in areas where they are not allowed, which covers trains, platforms and everything past the ticket gates. The rule includes water and chewing gum. It applies all year, including during Ramadan, so eat before you tap in or after you leave the paid area.
What is the fine for sitting in Gold Class without a Gold card?
AED 100. The same fine applies to men who sit in the women and children cabin. RTA lists both under “accessing or sitting in areas designated for specific categories”. Check the platform floor markings before you board, because these cabins are usually at the front of the train.
Can I carry alcohol on the Dubai Metro?
No. Carrying alcoholic drinks on public transport is an AED 500 fine, and RTA’s rule makes no exception for sealed bottles. If you have bought alcohol at duty free or from a licensed shop, take a taxi or a private car instead of the metro, tram or bus.
Is there a fine for sleeping on the Dubai Metro?
Yes. RTA lists an AED 300 fine for sleeping in passenger shelters or any place where sleeping is banned. It is mainly aimed at people sleeping on station benches or floors, but lying across train seats can also attract it. Staying upright on a long ride is fine.
What happens if I don’t tap out on the Dubai Metro?
The system cannot work out your fare, and an inspector can treat the trip as travelling without paying, which is an AED 200 fine. If a gate fails to read your card, tell station staff straight away so the trip is corrected.
Avoiding Dubai Metro fines on every trip
Most Dubai Metro fines come down to three habits: finish your food and drink before the gates, check the floor markings before you board, and tap in and out on your own card. Keep those, and the rest of the list rarely applies to you.
For hours and holiday changes, go back to our Dubai Metro timings hub. For the wider network, see the Dubai public transport guide, and find more guides on the Live In Gulf homepage.
Disclaimer: fines are taken from RTA’s published penalty table, checked in October 2026. They are set by regulation and can change; confirm on rta.ae before relying on any amount. This guide is general information, not legal advice.
