What time does the Dubai Metro close?

Around midnight on most nights, later on Friday and Saturday, with a later start on Sunday. It does not run in the early hours at all — and that single gap is what strands more visitors than anything else about Dubai transport.

The hours

• Roughly 05:00 to midnight on most days
• Later on Friday and Saturday nights
• A later start on Sunday
• Nothing between about midnight and 05:00

The Roads and Transport Authority adjusts these periodically and extends them for public holidays and events, so check the day you travel if your plan depends on the last train.

Why it catches people out

Two situations, both common:

Landing at 3am. A cheap night flight into DXB arrives to a closed Metro. Take a taxi — the rank outside every terminal is staffed around the clock, it is metered, and it takes cards. Expect AED 40–130 depending on where you are staying. See what a taxi from the airport costs.

A long evening out. Dubai eats and drinks late, and a dinner that starts at ten will not finish before the last train. Budget for a taxi home, or plan the evening around a district you can walk back through.

What still runs

Taxis, all night, everywhere. Careem and Uber both operate through the night as well, typically 10 to 30 percent above the metered fare with a price fixed before you get in.

The tram and the monorail

The Dubai Tram through the Marina and JBR keeps broadly similar hours and takes the same Nol card. The Palm Monorail is separate, does not take Nol, and is slow and infrequent enough that a taxi onto the Palm is usually the better choice regardless of the hour.

Fares, zones, the Nol card and the rules people get fined for are all in the Dubai Metro and Nol card guide.

Hours verified August 2026 — the RTA changes them periodically. See our editorial policy.