Almost every Dubai Metro journey starts with one question: Red Line or Green Line? The lines cover very different parts of the city, cross at just two stations, and feel quite different at rush hour. If you live near Deira or work in Media City, understanding where each line goes, when trains run and which stations get busy will shape your routine.
Where Each Line Goes
The Red Line is the city’s long spine. It runs from Centrepoint, near Rashidiya and the airport, through Deira and Bur Dubai, then down Sheikh Zayed Road past World Trade Centre, Business Bay, Mall of the Emirates and Dubai Marina, before splitting towards Ibn Battuta and the Expo 2020 area. It serves Airport Terminal 1 and Terminal 3, major malls and most office districts newcomers work in. If your life runs along Sheikh Zayed Road, this is your line.
The Green Line loops through the historic city. It runs from Etisalat by e& in Al Qusais through Al Futtaim, Al Garhoud and Healthcare City, around Baniyas Square, Al Ras and the souk side of Deira, across Bur Dubai via Al Fahidi and BurJuman, and out to Oud Metha, Al Jadaf and Creek. It suits older neighbourhoods, souks, Bur Dubai government offices, Healthcare City hospitals and more affordable housing areas.
- Red Line: airport, Sheikh Zayed Road offices, Marina, Mall of the Emirates.
- Green Line: Deira and Bur Dubai souks, Al Fahidi, Healthcare City, Creek, Al Qusais.
- Both: air-conditioned, step-free stations with full Nol integration.
The Two Interchanges: Union and BurJuman
The lines cross at only two stations, and choosing the right one saves time. Union, in Deira, is one of the largest and busiest stations in the city. It suits changes between the Green Line’s Deira and Al Qusais side and the Red Line towards the airport or Sheikh Zayed Road. Allow extra minutes at peak times, as the walk and crowds are substantial.
BurJuman, in Bur Dubai, is often calmer, and suits journeys between the Green Line’s Bur Dubai and Creek side and the Red Line. Travelling from Al Fahidi or Oud Metha towards Business Bay or Al Barsha, changing here is usually shorter than backtracking to Union. Change at the interchange closer to your start — the walk inside both stations is long, and platforms sit on different levels, so follow the colour-coded signs.
First Trains, Last Trains and Frequencies
Hours vary by day, with later starts on Fridays and extended hours for holidays and major events. In typical periods, services have started at around 5am on weekdays, later on Friday mornings, and run until around midnight or slightly after. Never plan a tight airport connection on a remembered timetable. Check live times for your station in the S’hail app or on rta.ae on the day, especially for the last train, which differs by direction.
At peak times Red Line trains typically run every few minutes, with wider gaps late at night. The Green Line is usually a little less frequent, but still frequent enough that most residents do not check a timetable by day. Longer gaps usually mean a temporary adjustment, with updates first in S’hail.
Crowded Stations and Travelling Comfortably
Regular riders know the pinch points. Union and BurJuman are busy all day as interchanges. On the Red Line, Mall of the Emirates, DMCC, Sobha Realty and Business Bay surge at commuting times. On the Green Line, Baniyas Square, Al Ras and Al Fahidi crowd around souk hours.
Small tactics help: walk to the far ends of platforms where carriages are often less full, avoid doors nearest the interchange stairs, and let one peak train go if the next is a few minutes behind. The women’s and children’s cabin, and Gold Class, offer calmer space. Shifting your journey by even 20 minutes can transform the experience at Union.
Choosing Your Routine Around the Lines
When viewing a flat, test the journey at the time you would actually commute, not at quiet midday. A home near Al Futtaim or Abu Heil may be great value, but a job in Media City means a change at Union or BurJuman every day. Conversely, a Red Line home near Equiti can make a Deira job manageable against the main morning flow.
Neither line is better in the abstract — Red is faster for the business corridor, Green richer for the historic city. Learn your interchange, check timings in S’hail, and the Metro becomes the most predictable part of your day.