Al Ghubaiba Metro Station: Guide & Timings (2026)

Al Ghubaiba is the metro station for Old Dubai. Sitting on the Green Line in Bur Dubai, it is the door to the Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, the Textile Souk, the Dubai Creek abras — and the bus station that carries passengers to Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. If your Dubai trip includes any heritage stop, you will almost certainly pass through here.

This guide covers both exits, the bus station, the abra crossing, timings, fares and the fastest routes onward — everything you need to use Al Ghubaiba station like a local.

Al Ghubaiba Station: Quick Facts

Exits: Which Gate to Take

The station has two main exit points, and picking the wrong one is the classic first-timer mistake — check the signage before you tap out:

Platforms & Directions

Al Ghubaiba is an underground station with two side platforms:

• Platform 1 (westbound): toward e& (Etisalat) — next station Sharaf DG
• Platform 2 (eastbound): toward Creek — next station Al Ras

For the Red Line, ride 2 stops to BurJuman (or continue to Union) and transfer inside the paid area — no need to tap out.

Al Ghubaiba Bus Station: The Intercity Hub

Across the road from the metro sits Al Ghubaiba Bus Station, one of Dubai’s main intercity terminals:

• To Abu Dhabi: regular coach services throughout the day
• To Sharjah: frequent services on the busiest commuter corridor in the UAE
• Local routes: feeder buses across Bur Dubai, Deira and beyond

Abra & Water Taxi: The Creek Crossing

A short walk from Gate 2 is the Al Ghubaiba Marine Transport Station, where traditional wooden abras cross Dubai Creek to Deira. The crossing costs around AED 1, takes a few minutes, and is one of the cheapest scenic experiences in the city. Faster air-conditioned water taxis run the same route for a higher fare.

The classic half-day route: metro → Gate 2 → heritage walk through Al Fahidi → abra across the Creek → Gold Souq and Spice Souk on the Deira side (nearest Green Line station there: Gold Souq).

What’s Nearby: Attractions Within Walking Distance

Timings & First/Last Trains

Standard Dubai Metro hours apply at Al Ghubaiba:

Trains run every 3–5 minutes at peak and every 5–8 minutes off-peak. Ramadan and National Day schedules can differ — check RTA announcements before travel. (Full detail in our Dubai Metro timings guide.)

Fares & Nol Card

Al Ghubaiba is in Zone 6. With a Silver Nol card: AED 3 for trips within one zone, AED 5 for two zones, AED 7.50 for three or more. A trip to the Red Line transfer at BurJuman stays inside Zone 6 (AED 3). You need a Nol card to ride — no cash fares. (Check your balance · recharge online · card types & prices · where to buy.)

Getting to the Red Line & Dubai Mall

Al Ghubaiba is Green Line only. Ride two stops to BurJuman (or continue to Union) and transfer to the Red Line. For Dubai Mall: BurJuman → Red Line → Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall station — roughly 25–35 minutes total, including the Metro Link bridge walk into the mall.

Practical Tips

• Gate check: Gate 1 = buses, Gate 2 = heritage/Creek. Decide before you tap out.
• Abra timing: abras run frequently through the day; the crossing is quickest early morning or late afternoon when the light on the Creek is best.
• Friday mornings: the metro starts at 5:00 AM on Fridays but the heritage area wakes up slowly — plan souq visits for after 10 AM.
• Stay hydrated: the walk from Gate 2 to the Creek is short but exposed; carry water in summer.
• Keep small change: the abra costs around AED 1 — cash, not Nol.

Last updated: October 2026. Timings follow RTA’s published schedule; verify live departures in the RTA app.

Key Journeys From This Station

*Approximate, including average waiting time; actual times vary by time of day. Fares: AED 3 (1 zone) / AED 5 (2 zones) / AED 7.50 (3+ zones) on a Silver Nol card.

Station Facilities & Accessibility

Like all Dubai Metro stations, Al Ghubaiba offers step-free access and the standard RTA facility set:

• Ticketing: ticket office, vending machines and Nol card top-up kiosks
• Step-free: lifts and escalators to all levels; tactile paving for visually impaired passengers
• Onboard info: audio announcements in Arabic and English; real-time digital displays
• Comfort: fully air-conditioned concourse and platforms with platform screen doors
• Services: prayer rooms, washrooms, retail kiosks, ATMs and free Wi-Fi
• Safety: 24/7 CCTV, emergency call points and staffed information desks

Station History

Al Ghubaiba opened on 9 September 2011 with the first stretch of the Green Line, as part of Dubai’s push to connect the historic Creek districts by rail. Unlike many Red Line stations, it has never been renamed — though the bus station across the road has been an intercity terminal for far longer than the metro has existed. The station’s role has only grown: it now anchors the heritage-tourism circuit (Al Fahidi → Textile Souk → abra → Gold Souq) that most first-time visitors follow through Old Dubai.

A Perfect Half-Day From Al Ghubaiba

Morning: exit at Gate 2 and walk to the Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood (8–12 min) — explore the wind-tower houses, the coin museum and an art café. Midday: stroll to the Textile Souk, then lunch at Al Seef on the Creek. Afternoon: ride a traditional abra (~AED 1) across to Deira, wander the Gold Souq and Spice Souq, then hop on the Green Line at Gold Souq station back toward the city. Total transport cost: under AED 10 plus the abra.

Frequently Asked Questions

Keep exploring the Dubai Metro cluster: All Dubai Metro Stations · Sharaf DG Station · BurJuman Interchange · Union Interchange · Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall Station · Metro Timings · Nol Card Balance Check · Nol Card for Tourists