Dubai Commuters: How to Save Money on Public Transport

Want to save money the next time you use public transport? Did you know about this trick: if you transfer from the Dubai Metro to a bus within 30 minutes, it counts as part of the same journey?

In fact, passengers are not charged based on the number of transport options they use – whether it is a bus, metro, tram or abra. Instead, you are charged based on the number of zones you travel through.

So, what are the zones and what rules should you remember to get the most out of Dubai's public transport options in the most affordable way?

Here's what you need to know.

⚫️ How is public transport fare calculated?

Dubai's public transport network is divided into seven zones. Each zone includes metro stations, bus stations, tram stations and marine transport stations.

Therefore, you can choose different modes of transport within different zones for your journey. In the end, you will be charged according to the total number of zones you have passed through in your journey.

⚫️ Remember the 30-minute rule

However, if you are using different modes of transport for your journey, you must ensure that you transfer between them within 30 minutes in order for it to be calculated as one continuous journey.

For example, you can travel by metro and then take a bus to your destination. But after exiting the metro station, you must make sure that you get on a bus to continue your journey within the next 30 minutes.

If you do this on time, your metro and bus trips will be counted as one trip.

⚫️ What are the rules of this transfer?

The maximum number of transfers allowed is three, so you can switch between three different modes of transport.

There is also a limit to the total duration of the journey, which should not exceed 180 minutes.

⚫️ How much does it cost to travel between different zones?

If your journey is within one zone, the cost is AED 3. If it is within two zones, the fare is AED 5, and if it is across multiple zones, it is AED 7.50. This is the standard fare, but it can change depending on the type of your nol card.

◼️ Travel Fare Between Zones:

🔲 Within One Zone

Red Ticket - AED 4
 Personal (Blue) - AED 3
Silver - AED 3
 Gold - AED 6

🔲 Within Two Adjacent Zones

Red Ticket - AED 6
 Personal (Blue) - AED 5
Silver - AED 5
 Gold - AED 10

🔲 More Than Two Zones

Red Ticket - AED 8.5
 Personal (Blue) - AED 7.50
Silver - AED 7.50
 Gold - AED 15

⚫️ Dubai Metro Station Zones

🔴 Red Line:

R11 - Centrepoint (formerly Rashidiya) (Zone 5)
 R12 - Emirates (Zone 5)
R14 - Airport Terminal 1 (Zone 5)
 R15 - GGICO (Zone 5)
R16 - Deira City Centre (Zone 5)
 R17 - Al Rigga (Zone 5)
R18 - Union (Zone 5)
 R19 - Burjuman (Zone 6)
R20 - ADCB (Zone 6)
 R21 - Max (Zone 6)
R22 - World Trade Centre (Zone 6)
 R23 - Emirates Towers (Zone 6)
R24 - Financial Centre (Zone 6)
 R25 - Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall (Zone 6)
R26 - Business Bay (Zone 6)
 R29 - ONPASSIVE (Zone 2)
R31 - Equiti (formerly Umm Al Sheif) (Zone 2)
 R32 - Mall of the Emirates (Zone 2)
R33 - Mashreq (Zone 2)
 R34 - Dubai Internet City (Zone 2)
R35 - Al Khail (Zone 2)
 R36 - Sobha Realty (Zone 2)
R37 - DMCC (Zone 2)
 R38 - Jebel Ali (Zone 2)
R39 - Ibn Battuta (Zone 2)
 R40 - Energy (Zone 2)
R41 - Danube (Zone 1)
 R42 - UAE Exchange (Zone 1)
R70 - Gardens (Zone 2)
 R71 - Discovery Gardens (Zone 2)
R72 - Al Furjan (Zone 2)
 R73 - Jumeirah Golf Estates (Zone 3)
R74 - Dubai Investment Park (Zone 1)
 R76 - Expo 2020 (Zone 1)

🟢 Green Line:

G11 - Etisalat (Zone 5)
 G12 - Al Qusais (Zone 5)
G13 - Dubai Airport Free Zone (Zone 5)
 G14 - Al Nahda (Zone 5)
G15 - Stadium (Zone 5)
 G16 - Al Qiyadah (Zone 5)
G17 - Abu Hail (Zone 5)
 G18 - Abu Baker Al Siddique (Zone 5)
G19 - Salah Al Din (Zone 5)
 G20 - Union (Zone 5)
G21 - Baniyas Square (Zone 5)
 G22 - Gold Souq (Zone 5)
G23 - Al Ras (Zone 5)
 G24 - Al Ghubaiba (Zone 6)
G25 - Sharaf DG (Zone 6)
 G26 - Burjuman (Zone 6)
G27 - Oud Metha (Zone 6)
 G28 - Dubai Healthcare City (Zone 6)
G29 - Al Jadaf (Zone 6)
 G30 - Creek (Zone 6)