Dubai is consistently one of the most popular cities in the world, and the metropolitan area has seen unparalleled growth over the last 20 years in an effort to meet demand from both tourists and residents alike.
One of the key developments has been the construction of Dubai Marina, a three-kilometre-long canal, that has become iconic for its skyscrapers and super yachts.
Ground was broken all the way back at the beginning of the 2000s, and new attractions are still being developed in the area. In 2018 the Dubai Marina population numbered some 55,000 residents over an area of approximately 4.9 km2.
Dubai Marina is truly a city within a city. Here you will find anything you could want from the bustling promenade, sandy beaches and water sports to world-class shopping at Marina Mall, and tourist attractions such as Ain Dubai located just off the Marina on Bluewaters Island.
There is a great selection of luxury hotels in Dubai Marina, and the restaurant, dining and nightlife scene in the area continues to blossom.
In short, Dubai Marina has something for everyone and is one of the hottest tourist spots in Dubai.
Getting Around Dubai Marina
Travelling around any large city is frequently one of the key challenges for most tourists.
With a growing metro network, the Palm Monorail and countless RTA taxis, Dubai is generally well served with public transport. However, due to the high density of tourists and residents, traffic around Dubai Marina can be quite congested at peak hours.
The Dubai Tram offers a great way to get around the area without having to rely on free-flowing traffic, and it has also connected the wider marina area with the rest of Dubai via the two stations interlinked with Dubai Metro.
In addition to the tram and taking full advantage of its maritime location, Dubai Marina also has several ferry routes and the airconditioned Abra routes, allowing you to get around whilst enjoying Dubai from the water.
What is the Dubai tram and where does it go?
Dubai Tram opened in 2014 and offers a convenient and inexpensive way of getting around the Dubai Marina and further afield.
The tram tracks run for 14.5km from Al Sufouh along Al Sufouh Road passing Palm Jumeirah, Media City, Marina Mall, and Jumeirah Lake Towers, before finishing at Jumeirah Beach Residences.
Dubai Tram is only the fourth tram worldwide to have a ground-level power supply (Alimentation par Sol) and thereby doing away with the overhead electric lines.
Each tram can carry almost 400 passengers and cabins are equipped with a dedicated women’s and children’s area as well as an area for Gold Class for those wishing to travel in extra comfort.
Dubai Tram Route
There are currently 11 stations served on the route with two access points to the Dubai Metro as indicated below as well as one access point to the Palm Monorail. The journey takes 40 minutes from beginning to end.
- Jumeirah Beach Residence 1
- Jumeirah Beach Residence 2
- Jumeirah Lakes Towers: interlink Dubai Metro – DMCC Station (red line)
- Dubai Marina Mall
- Dubai Marina: interlink Dubai Metro – Sobha Realty Station (red line)
- Marina Towers
- Mina Al Seyahi
- Media City
- Palm Jumeirah: interlink Palm Monorail – Palm Gateway Station
- Knowledge Village
- Al Sufouh
Dubai Tram Timings
- Monday to Saturday – 6:00 am to 1:00am the following morning
- Sunday 9:00am to 1:00am the following morning
- Trams run approximately every 8-10 minutes.
Dubai Tram Tickets
In order to ride the tram, passengers must have a NOL card. This is an electronic ticket card (equivalent of London’s Oyster Card and Hong Kong’s Octopus Card).
The card can be pre-loaded with credit, and passengers tap in at the platform screen doors and tap out at the end of the journey in order to pay the correct amount.
Most tourists will use either the red or silver NOL cards.
- Red NOL is a temporary card, valid for 90 days with a limit of 10 trips or five day-passes. The red card costs only 2AED. If you need to travel more frequently than allowed on the red NOL card, then the silver card is for you.
- The silver NOL card is slightly more expensive at 25AED, but then the card comes pre-loaded with 19AED credit.
- If you prefer to travel more comfortably, you might choose the gold NOL card, which gives you access to Gold Class on the Metro and the Tram, and standard class on all other modes of public transport.
Dubai Tram has a fixed fare regardless of the number of stations travelled:
- 3 AED per trip for Silver NOL cards
- 4 AED per trip for Red NOL cards
- 6 AED per trip for Gold class
You can purchase a NOL card at any station. You must purchase your ticket before boarding the tram – there is no conductor on board but you will find inspectors making random checks.
Children under 5 do not require a NOL card.
You can find out more about Dubai Tram on the RTA website here.
More frequently asked questions about Dubai Tram
No, there is a fixed fare to ride the Dubai tram per person. How much you pay depends on which Nol card you have, ranging from 3 to 6 AED per passenger.
Each passenger is permited one large and one small suitcase on Dubai tram.
Whilst phase 1 of Dubai tram opened in 2014 with 11 stations, Phase 2 will add a further 14 stations. There is no specified opening date for phase 2.
Yes thre are two stations on the tram route where you can conveinently disembark and cross the overhead gantries over Sheikh Zayed Road to access the Metro. These stops are Jumeirah Lakes Towers and Dubai Marina.
Yes, all stations have been designed with step-free access.
Before you go… More important things you should know when planning a trip to Dubai
Take me back to the best attractions and activities in Dubai
Please note we are not a travel agency. This site is a travel blog to help newcomers to the UAE and transit passengers self plan their trip, we cannot book your flights, hotels, visas or connections for you. We may make a small commission if you click on any of our recommendation links.
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