The Dubai Metro doesn’t travel alone: the Dubai Tram extends the Red Line into JBR, the Marina, and Palm Jumeirah, while marine transport — abras, water buses, ferries, and water taxis — crosses the creek and the coastline. All of it runs on your Nol card.
This 2026 guide covers the tram’s 11 stations, fares and hours, every marine option, and how to chain metro + tram + boat into seamless journeys.
Dubai Tram: Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Stations | 11 |
| Length | 10.6 km (Al Sufouh corridor) |
| Opened | 11 November 2014 |
| Hours | Mon–Sat 6:00 AM–1:00 AM; Sun 9:00 AM–1:00 AM |
| Frequency | ~4 min peak, ~7 min off-peak; full run ~40 min |
| Fare | AED 3 flat (Silver/Blue); AED 6 Gold; AED 4 Red ticket |
| Metro interchanges | Dubai Marina tram ↔ Sobha Realty (R36); JLT tram ↔ DMCC (R37) |
| Monorail link | Palm Jumeirah tram ↔ Palm Monorail (to Atlantis) |
All 11 Dubai Tram Stations
| # | Station | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jumeirah Beach Residence 1 | The Walk, beach access |
| 2 | Jumeirah Beach Residence 2 | The Beach, Ain Dubai views |
| 3 | Jumeirah Lakes Towers | Metro interchange — footbridge to DMCC (R37) |
| 4 | Dubai Marina Mall | Marina Mall |
| 5 | Dubai Marina | Metro interchange — footbridge to Sobha Realty (R36) |
| 6 | Marina Towers | Marina residential |
| 7 | Mina Seyahi | Le Méridien / Westin Mina Seyahi |
| 8 | Media City | Dubai Media City offices |
| 9 | Palm Jumeirah | Monorail interchange — to Atlantis via Palm Monorail |
| 10 | Knowledge Village | Universities, Dubai Knowledge Park |
| 11 | Al Sufouh | Terminus |
The Classic Journey: Metro → Tram → Monorail → Atlantis
- Red Line to Sobha Realty (R36).
- Follow signs across the enclosed footbridge to Dubai Marina tram station (~7 min).
- Tram to Palm Jumeirah station (~10 min, AED 3).
- Covered walkway to the Palm Monorail (Gateway station) → ride to Atlantis (~10 min, separate ticket).
Total: about an hour, mostly under AED 25. The reverse works for JBR beach days: metro → tram → JBR 1/JBR 2.
Dubai Marine Transport: Abras, Ferries & Water Taxis
RTA’s marine network is part of the same Nol system:
| Service | What it is | Fare (Nol) |
|---|---|---|
| Abra (traditional) | Wooden boats crossing Dubai Creek (Bur Dubai ↔ Deira) | AED 1 |
| Abra (air-conditioned) | Modern abras on set creek routes | AED 2 |
| Water bus | Scheduled creek/Marina routes | Zone-based, from ~AED 3 |
| Dubai Ferry | Longer coastal routes (Marina ↔ JBR ↔ Al Ghubaiba etc.) | From ~AED 15–50 by class/route |
| Water taxi | On-demand, bookable | Distance-based (priciest option) |
Key Marine Stations Near the Metro
- Al Ghubaiba Marine Station — next to Al Ghubaiba metro (G24); abras to Deira, ferry routes.
- Al Jaddaf Marine Station — near Creek metro (G30); abra/ferry to Dubai Festival City.
- Dubai Marina Marine Station — near Sobha Realty (R36) via tram; Marina ferry and water taxi services.
Multi-Modal Journey Planner
| Trip | Chain |
|---|---|
| Downtown → JBR beach | Red Line → Sobha Realty (R36) → tram → JBR 1/2 |
| Downtown → Atlantis | Red Line → Sobha Realty → tram → Palm Jumeirah → monorail |
| Deira → Al Fahidi | Green Line → Al Ras (G23) → abra (AED 1) → Bur Dubai |
| Creek → Festival City | Green Line → Creek (G30) → abra/ferry across the creek |
| Marina → Old Dubai | Red Line → Union → Green Line → Gold Souq (G22) |
Tips
- One card for everything: metro, tram, bus, abra, ferry, water taxi — all Nol. Keep AED 7.50+ balance.
- Tram vs metro hours differ: tram starts 6:00 AM (9:00 AM Sunday) — later than the metro.
- Monorail is separate: the Palm Monorail is NOT on Nol — buy its ticket at Gateway station.
- Ferry schedules vary by season — check RTA marine timetables in the S’hail app.
- Seasickness: the creek abra is calm; the coastal ferry can roll — sit mid-boat if sensitive.
Last updated: October 2026. Marine fares and schedules per RTA; verify in the S’hail app.
Dubai Ferry: Routes and Fares in Detail
The ferry is the marine network’s long-distance workhorse. Verified fares (Silver / Gold):
| Route | Silver | Gold | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai Marina ⇄ Al Ghubaiba (one way) | AED 50 | AED 75 | Cross-city coastal line, ~75–90 min |
| Marina / Al Ghubaiba round trip | AED 50 | AED 75 | ~60 min sightseeing loop; needs 10+ passengers to sail |
| Canal segment (Marina ⇄ Canal / Ghubaiba ⇄ Canal) | AED 25 | AED 35 | Shorter hops via Dubai Canal station |
| Al Ghubaiba ⇄ Sharjah Aquarium | AED 15 | AED 25 | ~35 min commuter ferry; under-5s free |
| Family bundle (2 adults + 2 children) | AED 140 | AED 210 | Tourist trips |
Key marine stations: Dubai Marina Mall, Bluewaters, Dubai Canal (Water Canal), Al Ghubaiba, Al Jaddaf, Al Fahidi. Children under 5 travel free on most routes, and round trips only sail with a minimum of 10 passengers — check the day’s schedule in the S’hail app before heading down.
The Sharjah Commuter Ferry
The Al Ghubaiba ⇄ Aquarium (Sharjah) line is the inter-emirate commuter option — launched 2019, paused for COVID, resumed August 2023:
- Mon–Thu: 8 journeys/day — Sharjah departures 7:00 & 8:30 AM, Dubai 7:45 AM; evenings Sharjah 4:45 & 6:16 PM, Dubai 4:00, 5:30 & 7:00 PM.
- Fri–Sun: 6 journeys/day from noon — Sharjah 2:00, 4:00 & 6:00 PM; Dubai 3:00, 5:00 & 8:00 PM.
- Fare: AED 15 Silver / AED 25 Gold — a ~35-minute crossing for the price of a coffee.
Abra Routes: Creek Crossings Explained
- Traditional abra — AED 1: the classic wooden-boat creek crossings between Bur Dubai and Deira (Baniyas Road ↔ Old Souq sides). Pay by Nol card or cash at the abra station. Sunset is the magic hour.
- Air-conditioned abra — AED 2: modern boats running set creek routes.
- Al Jaddaf ↔ Dubai Festival City: the Festival City crossing, walking distance from Creek metro (G30).
- Special services: RTA lays on event marine services — e.g. New Year’s Eve 2026 ferries from Marina Mall, Al Ghubaiba, and Bluewaters (10:00–10:30 PM departures, AED 350 Silver / AED 525 Gold).
Three Perfect Multi-Modal Days
Day 1 — Old Dubai: Green Line to Gold Souq (G22) → explore the souks → AED 1 traditional abra across the creek → Al Fahidi quarter via Sharaf DG (G25). Total transport cost: under AED 15.
Day 2 — Marina & Atlantis: Red Line to Sobha Realty (R36) → tram to Palm Jumeirah → monorail to Atlantis → sunset Dubai Ferry round trip from Marina Mall marine station (AED 50 Silver).
Day 3 — Creek & Sharjah: Green Line to Al Ghubaiba (G24) → AED 15 ferry across to Sharjah’s Aquarium station — an inter-emirate day trip for the price of a coffee. Or stay on the Dubai side: Al Jaddaf marine → abra to Dubai Festival City.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my Nol card on the Dubai Tram?
Yes — the Nol card works on the tram. Tap in and out at the platform screen doors. The fare is a flat AED 3 (Silver/Blue), AED 6 Gold, AED 4 Red ticket.
Where does the Dubai Tram connect with the metro?
At two stations: Dubai Marina tram ↔ Sobha Realty metro (R36) and JLT tram ↔ DMCC metro (R37), both via enclosed footbridges.
How much is the abra in Dubai?
The traditional creek abra costs AED 1 — payable by Nol card or cash. Air-conditioned abras cost AED 2.
How do I get to Atlantis by public transport?
Red Line to Sobha Realty (R36) → tram to Palm Jumeirah station → Palm Monorail to Atlantis. The monorail needs its own ticket (not Nol).
What are the Dubai Tram timings?
6:00 AM–1:00 AM Monday–Saturday, 9:00 AM–1:00 AM Sunday. Trams run every ~4 minutes at peak.
Can I use Nol on the Dubai Ferry?
Yes — the Dubai Ferry, water bus, abras, and water taxis all accept Nol cards. Ferry fares start around AED 15 depending on route and class.
How many stations does the Dubai Tram have?
11 stations over 10.6 km, from JBR 1 to Al Sufouh, serving JBR, JLT, Dubai Marina, Media City, Palm Jumeirah, and Knowledge Village.
Is the Palm Monorail on the Nol card?
No — the Palm Monorail is privately operated and needs its own ticket, bought at the station. Everything else (metro, tram, abra, ferry) is Nol.
How much is the Dubai Ferry to Sharjah?
AED 15 Silver / AED 25 Gold, one way, ~35 minutes between Al Ghubaiba and Sharjah’s Aquarium marine station. Under-5s and People of Determination travel free.
Does the Dubai Ferry stop at the Dubai Canal?
Yes — Dubai Canal (Water Canal) marine station connects to both Marina and Al Ghubaiba on short segments: AED 25 Silver / AED 35 Gold each way.
Is there a family ticket for the Dubai Ferry?
Yes — AED 140 Silver / AED 210 Gold covers 2 adults + 2 children on tourist trips.
How often does the Sharjah ferry run?
Monday–Thursday: 8 journeys/day. Friday–Sunday: 6 journeys/day from noon. Morning peak sailings run roughly every 30 minutes.
Keep exploring: Dubai Metro Stations Guide · Sobha Realty Station · DMCC Station · Tourist Guide · Fares
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