Dubai Metro Timings: Red & Green Line (Weekdays, Weekend, Ramadan)

Dubai Metro timings are the same on both lines. Stations open at 5 am and close at midnight from Monday to Thursday and on Saturday. On Friday they stay open until 1 am. Sunday is the odd one out: the first trains run at 8 am, not 5 am.

Those hours come from the RTA timetable, and RTA kept them unchanged for Ramadan 2026. Holidays and big events are where the schedule moves, so the sections below cover each case.

Quick answer: Red and Green Line stations open 5 am to midnight (Mon to Thu, Sat), 5 am to 1 am (Fri) and 8 am to midnight (Sun). The tram runs 6 am to 1 am, and from 9 am on Sunday.

Dubai Metro timings at a glance

RTA lists these as station opening hours for all lines. It also publishes a detailed timings PDF with first and last trains by station.

What time does the first and last metro run?

The first trains leave the end stations at opening time: Centrepoint, Expo 2020 and Life Pharmacy on the Red Line, and e& and Creek on the Green Line. If you board in the middle of a line, your first train reaches you a little later.

The closing time works the other way round. Midnight is when stations shut, so the last train that suits you can pass your platform before then, depending on which direction you travel. That gap matters most on long Red Line rides, such as Expo 2020 to Centrepoint, which takes well over an hour end to end.

Our advice is simple: for any ride after 11 pm, check the last train for your exact station in the RTA PDF or the S’hail app, rather than relying on the midnight figure.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday metro hours

Friday is the late night. Both lines run until 1 am the following morning, which helps if you are coming back from a Friday dinner in Downtown or the Marina.

Saturday follows the weekday pattern: 5 am to midnight.

Sunday catches people out more than any other day. Trains start at 8 am, three hours later than the rest of the week. If you have a Sunday flight before 9 am or an early shift, plan a taxi or a bus instead. Closing time on Sunday is still midnight.

Dubai Metro timing during Ramadan 2026

For Ramadan 1447 / 2026, RTA did not shorten metro hours. Its Ramadan service hours announcement set the Red and Green Lines at:

• Monday to Thursday: 5 am to midnight
• Friday: 5 am to 1 am (next day)
• Saturday: 5 am to midnight
• Sunday: 8 am to midnight

The tram ran 6 am to 1 am from Monday to Saturday, and 9 am to 1 am on Sunday. In other words, the normal timetable held.

That has not always been the case. In earlier years, RTA used a later Friday start during Ramadan, so don’t assume next year will copy this one. RTA usually publishes Ramadan timings a few days before the holy month begins.

One more Ramadan point: eating and drinking stay banned inside paid areas and on trains all year, so a meal at sunset happens before you tap in. The Dubai Metro rules and fines guide lists the AED 100 penalty.

Public holidays, Eid and New Year’s Eve

On public holidays, RTA tends to extend hours rather than cut them. A few recent examples show the pattern:

• New Year’s Eve 2026: RTA ran the Red and Green Lines for 43 hours without a break, from 5 am on 31 December to 11:59 pm on 1 January, as Gulf News reported. Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall station closed to entry from 5 pm that evening.
• Dubai Marathon, Sunday 1 February 2026: both lines opened at 5 am instead of 8 am to carry runners and spectators.
• Eid Al Adha 2026: RTA extended metro hours across the holiday and revised tram timings.

Events can also close single stations. Expect that on New Year’s Eve in Downtown and during large concerts. RTA posts these changes on its website banner and social channels, usually two to five days ahead.

When are the peak hours?

Trains are busiest from 7 am to 9 am and from 4 pm to 8 pm, according to RTA figures reported by Khaleej Times. During those windows the general cabins on the Red Line between Union and Business Bay can be packed tight.

To ease the crush, RTA added a third direct Red Line service in September 2025. At peak times, some trains now run from Centrepoint to Al Fardan Exchange and turn back there. The other two services run Centrepoint to Expo 2020 and Centrepoint to Life Pharmacy. Read the destination on the platform screen before you board, because a short-turning train will not take you to the Marina.

If you can shift your trip by 30 minutes either side of the peak, you will usually get a seat.

Platform screens show the destination of the next train, which matters on the Red Line’s three routes.

Red Line and Green Line routes in brief

The two lines share the same hours but serve different parts of the city.

The full stop-by-stop details sit in our guides to Red Line stations and Green Line stations. To join the tram, change at Sobha Realty or DMCC on the Red Line.

Dubai Tram timings

The tram opens an hour after the metro and closes an hour later. It runs 6 am to 1 am from Monday to Saturday, and 9 am to 1 am on Sunday.

That later closing time is useful. If you finish dinner at JBR at 12:15 am, the tram can still take you to Dubai Marina or JLT, but the Red Line may already be closed, so the last part of your trip becomes a taxi. Our Dubai Tram guide has the route and stations.

Planning around the timetable

A few trips need more thought than “it opens at 5”.

Early flights from DXB. The Red Line serves Terminal 1 and Terminal 3. On weekdays, a 5 am start gets most people to a 7:30 am departure. On Sunday, it doesn’t, because trains only begin at 8 am.

Late arrivals at DXB. If you land after 11 pm, the metro may close before you clear immigration and baggage. Have a taxi or bus plan ready; our Dubai airport to city guide compares the options.

Buses before the first train. Dubai Bus runs from about 4 am, before the metro opens. If you need to reach Centrepoint early, the Rashidiya bus station next to it is the main bus hub at that end of the Red Line.

Etihad Rail connections. The Jumeirah Golf Estates station on the Red Line links to the Etihad Rail Dubai station at Al Yalayis. Check that your metro leg runs early enough for a morning train, especially on Sunday.

Driving to the metro. The free park-and-ride car parks are open 24 hours, but you must leave within 60 minutes of your last metro trip. Our free metro parking guide explains the rules.

Mistakes people make with metro hours

The most common one is treating midnight as the time of the last train. It is the time stations close. On a long ride, the last useful train can leave your station 20 to 40 minutes earlier, depending on direction.

The second is forgetting about Sunday. Residents who started in Dubai when Friday was the day off still mix this up, and visitors rarely expect a later start on a weekday-style Sunday.

The third is trusting old holiday timings. Ramadan hours in 2026 matched the normal schedule, but earlier years differed. Always check the year you are travelling.

Finally, people forget their nol balance. RTA expects at least AED 7.50 on the card before the gates open, and a late-night top-up queue at a ticket machine can cost you the last train. See Dubai Metro and bus fares for what each trip costs.

More guides in the Dubai Metro and Tram series

This page is the starting point for our metro series. Each guide below goes deeper on one topic:

• Gold Class and the women’s cabin: who can sit where, prices and fines
• Dubai Metro rules and fines: the full RTA penalty list
• Free park-and-ride parking: which three stations, and the time limits
• Dubai Metro Blue Line: the 14 stations coming in 2029

For buses, taxis, abras and how it all fits together, see our Dubai public transport guide.

Frequently asked questions

What time does the Dubai Metro open today?

On Monday to Saturday, Red and Green Line stations open at 5 am. On Sunday they open at 8 am. These are RTA’s standard hours, and they also applied through Ramadan 2026. On public holidays and event days, RTA often opens earlier or runs longer, so check its website on the day.

What is the Dubai Metro Friday timing?

On Friday, both lines run from 5 am until 1 am the next morning, one hour later than the other days. The tram also runs until 1 am on Friday, as it does every night. Friday is the best evening for late dinners or events if you plan to ride home.

Does the Dubai Metro run 24 hours?

No. The metro closes every night, at midnight on most days and at 1 am after Friday. The exception is a few special occasions. For New Year’s Eve 2026, RTA ran both lines for 43 hours non-stop, from 5 am on 31 December to just before midnight on 1 January.

What are the metro timings in Ramadan?

In Ramadan 2026, RTA kept the normal timetable: 5 am to midnight Monday to Thursday and Saturday, 5 am to 1 am on Friday, and 8 am to midnight on Sunday. Earlier years used different Friday hours, so check RTA’s announcement each year before relying on these.

What time is the last metro from Dubai Mall?

Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall station closes at midnight on most nights and 1 am on Friday. The last train in your direction can leave before closing time, so check the station’s last departure in RTA’s timings PDF or the S’hail app. On big event nights, RTA may close the station early.

Checking Dubai Metro timings before you travel

For everyday trips, remember three numbers: 5 am, 8 am on Sunday, and midnight (1 am on Friday). For anything late, early or on a holiday, check that day’s Dubai Metro timings on the RTA website or the S’hail app, because event and holiday changes are announced only days ahead.

When you are ready to plan the route itself, start with our Dubai public transport guide or browse more guides on the Live In Gulf homepage.

Disclaimer: hours are taken from RTA pages and announcements checked in October 2026. RTA can change timings at short notice, so confirm on rta.ae or the S’hail app before you travel.