Getting around Dubai from a Deira base

The Metro is a useful starting point for getting around Dubai, with Red and Green line stations serving Deira. The driverless system connects with buses, taxis and other public transport; stations also offer Wi-Fi and ATMs, according to the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).

In Deira, the Red Line stops at City Centre Deira, Al Rigga and Union. Union also serves the Green Line, which continues through Baniyas Square, Gold Souq and Al Ras. That gives you several ways to connect a Metro journey with Deira’s Creek-side neighbourhoods.

Union and BurJuman are interchanges between the lines, and the Red Line serves Burj Khalifa / Dubai Mall. If your day includes both an old-city stop and a destination on the Red Line, you can change lines at Union. The station names and line codes can help you choose the right stop when planning your route.

For station locations and neighbourhood context, the guide to Al Rigga and Deira City Centre Metro stations covers the nearby options.

Buses and taxis can help when a Metro station is not the closest stop to your destination. Dubai’s bus network includes routes linking to Metro stations, as well as internal, fast and intercity services.

At bus stops, displays show service information. Buses also have audible and flashing platform alerts, tactile guidance paths and dedicated wheelchair spaces. For a bus leg, you can check the S’hail app for current schedules, especially when service timings change during Ramadan.

Metro and bus fares depend on the number of zones travelled. Silver Card fares are AED 3 within one zone, AED 5 across two adjacent zones and AED 7.50 across more than two zones.

A regular Nol Red Ticket costs AED 4, AED 6 or AED 8.50 for those same zone groupings. Metro users need at least AED 7.50 on a Nol card to travel.

Metro stations connect with taxis, making a taxi another option for a journey that does not line up neatly with a rail or bus route.

Abra services connect Deira and Bur Dubai across Dubai Creek, making them a practical way to include both sides in one outing. The CR1 route runs between Bur Dubai Marine Station and Deira Old Souq Marine Station on demand.

CR1 connects Bur Dubai and Deira Old Souq, while CR2 links Dubai Old Souq and Al Sabkha. The fare for both is AED 1 per passenger per trip, cash only.

RTA advises arriving at the station before departure because departure times vary by station; timings may also differ during Ramadan and public holidays. People of Determination and children under five travel free on commuter abra trips.

To plan the crossing around Deira’s waterfront, see the guide to Dubai Creek and abra crossings.

The Red Line serves Burj Khalifa / Dubai Mall station, giving you a Metro connection for a trip to Downtown Dubai.

If you are building a day around several areas, decide which stops sit on the same line before you leave Deira. That can help you make the most of the Metro and avoid unnecessary changes. A one-day Dubai itinerary from Deira can help you connect neighbourhoods into a single plan.

Check the route, fare and service timing for each leg before you travel. Metro station hours and public transport fares can change, and abra departure patterns vary by station.

Before you go: check the official site before you go, including the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) site, for current schedules, fares and service updates.

Which Metro lines serve Deira?

Both the Red and Green lines serve Deira. Union is a station on both lines.

Can you cross Dubai Creek by abra?

Yes. Commuter abra routes connect Deira and Bur Dubai, including a route between Deira Old Souq and Bur Dubai.

How do bus fares work in Dubai?

Metro and bus fares depend on the number of zones travelled. Check current fare details before your trip.