Getting Around Dubai Marina: An Overview
Dubai Marina sits on the Persian Gulf shoreline along Sheikh Zayed Road, roughly 20 kilometres southwest of downtown Dubai. Like much of the city, it is spread out, and the different neighbourhoods you will want to visit are not all within easy walking distance of one another. The good news is that public transport in Dubai is run by the Roads & Transport Authority (RTA), is generally inexpensive, and covers the Marina well. The RTA website (rta.ae) and its online journey planner (wojhati.rta.ae) are the best places to check routes and plan a trip before you set out.
Dubai's network brings together several modes: metro, tram, bus, taxi, abra (small wooden boats), and ferry, water bus and water taxi services. For a visitor based in Dubai Marina, the tram and metro are the workhorses, taxis and ride-hailing fill the gaps, and the water bus and ferry add a scenic option along the coast.
The Metro and Tram
The Dubai Metro is the backbone of the public transport system. It has two lines: the Red Line, which runs from Rashidiya (south of the airport) via the airport and the city centre, then south along Sheikh Zayed Road towards Jebel Ali; and the Green Line, which runs from Al Qusais via Deira and Bur Dubai to the Creek. The trains are driverless, and the lines mix underground and overground sections. Trains run frequently, roughly every few minutes, with services starting early in the morning and running until around midnight (later on Thursday nights, and with a later Friday start).
Dubai Marina is served by the Sobha Realty station on the Red Line. The station is elevated, sitting on a viaduct alongside the eastern side of Sheikh Zayed Road, near Interchange 5. It lies to the east of the northern half of Dubai Marina and to the west of the northern part of Jumeirah Lake Towers. Pedestrian access is helped by walkways above Sheikh Zayed Road that connect the station to developments on either side of the road. Note that this station has been renamed several times over the years, so you may see it referred to by older names on some maps and signs.
The Dubai Tram is the most convenient way to move around the Marina itself. It runs along Al Sufouh Road from Dubai Marina north towards the Burj Al Arab and the Mall of the Emirates, serving the residences of Dubai Marina and Jumeirah Beach. It interchanges with the metro's Red Line at two stations, and it also connects with the Palm Monorail at the entrance to the Palm from Sufouh Road. The tram uses the same Nol fare system as the rest of the network and has Gold Class and women-and-children carriages. It runs from early morning until around 1am, with departures every few minutes.
Buses and Other Public Transport
Dubai has an extensive bus network, though it is oriented largely towards commuters and is of limited use to most tourists. Most routes start or terminate at Gold Souk Bus Station in Deira or Al Ghubaiba Bus Station in Bur Dubai. Bus stops are signed, and some have air-conditioned shelters with network maps. The most useful route for visitors is bus #8, which runs from Gold Souk station via Al Ghubaiba south down Jumeirah Road to the Burj Al Arab and Dubai Marina, terminating at Ibn Battuta Mall. You must have a Nol card or ticket before boarding; tickets are not sold on board.
On the water, the abra is the classic Dubai experience: small wooden boats that cross Dubai Creek between Deira and Bur Dubai for a very small fare, departing when full and running from early morning until midnight (with one route operating around the clock at reduced service). The water bus zigzags along Dubai Marina itself, with several stations, running from mid-morning until late (with a later start on Fridays) and departures every 15–20 minutes; buy your ticket at the station, as Nol cards are not accepted. The Dubai Ferry runs longer-distance services, including daily trips between Bur Dubai and Dubai Marina and round trips from the Marina towards the Burj Al Arab and around Palm Jumeirah to Atlantis. Water taxis are charter-only, with no scheduled services, and can be booked through the RTA.
Tickets and Passes: The Nol Card
Almost all public transport in Dubai uses the Nol smart card, which works on the metro, tram, bus, water bus, and RTA-operated intercity buses. Fares are zone-based, and the fare is deducted when you check out, so you must tap out at the end of your journey or you will be charged the maximum single-journey fare.
- Silver Card: the best option for most tourists. It costs 25 AED, which includes 19 AED of stored value and a 6 AED card cost. Single journeys are cheaper on a Silver Card than on a Red Ticket.
- Red Ticket: a paper ticket costing 2 AED, loadable with up to ten trips. It is not reloadable and can only be used on a single mode of transport, so it suits very short visits.
Metro fares are inexpensive, with day passes also available. Children under five, or under 0.9 metres tall, travel free. Tickets can be bought at information kiosks at station departure gates when the ticket offices are shut. On the metro and tram, all trains have a Gold Class compartment (which costs double) and a women-and-children-only carriage next to it; women-only carriages and marked women's seating areas also apply on buses. Eating during trips and occupying reserved seats are prohibited, and fines apply for violations.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis are plentiful in Dubai, though they can be harder to find in Bur Dubai and Deira during rush hour and after dark. All genuine taxis have illuminated yellow roof signs — worth remembering, because hotel limousines may look similar, are metered, but charge around double. Fares start with a flag fare plus a per-kilometre rate, with a minimum charge per ride. Airport pick-ups carry a higher flag fare, there is a surcharge for trips into Sharjah, a small fee for phone bookings (higher late at night), a per-minute waiting charge, and a toll surcharge for Salik crossings. You can book a taxi centrally by phone, and "ladies' cabs" driven by female drivers, for women and families only, are available at slightly higher rates.
Walkability in Dubai Marina
Dubai Marina is one of the more walkable parts of the city. The district is built around an artificially constructed canal, and more than a tenth of the land area has been given over to public space, including several kilometres of landscaped public walkways. There is a publicly accessible foreshore way around the marina, plus sections of public ocean way along the beach with views towards Palm Jumeirah. The Dubai Marina Walk runs along the shoreline, and The Walk at Jumeirah Beach Residence is a pedestrian strip at the ground and plaza level of that complex, which has become a tourist attraction in its own right. Dubai Marina Mall sits in the centre of the district and is linked to the JW Marriott Hotel Marina.
Beyond the Marina, however, walking becomes less practical: Dubai is a large, spread-out city, and metro stations are often several kilometres from the beaches. Even the connection between the Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall metro station and the mall is a long footbridge. Plan to combine walking within the Marina with the tram, metro, or a taxi for longer hops.
Getting from the Airport into the City
Dubai's airport sits on the Red Line of the metro, so the simplest and cheapest way into the city is to take the metro directly from the airport. The Red Line runs from Rashidiya, south of the airport, through the airport and the city centre, then south along Sheikh Zayed Road towards Jebel Ali — which means you can ride it all the way to the Sobha Realty station serving Dubai Marina without changing trains. Trains run frequently from early morning until around midnight, and you will need a Nol card (a Silver Card is the sensible choice for a visitor) before you travel.
If you prefer door-to-door transport, taxis are available at the airport, though pick-ups there carry a higher flag fare than a standard street hail. Ride-hailing and hotel limousines are further options, but remember that hotel limousines, while metered, cost around double a regular taxi.
Practical Tips
- Buy a Silver Nol Card on arrival — it covers metro, tram, bus, water bus, and RTA intercity buses, and gives cheaper single journeys than a Red Ticket.
- Always tap out when you leave a service, or you will be charged the maximum fare.
- Use the RTA journey planner at wojhati.rta.ae to check routes before you travel.
- For the Marina itself, the tram and the water bus are the most convenient options; for the rest of the city, the metro Red Line is the backbone.
- Look for the yellow roof sign to be sure you are getting into a genuine taxi rather than a hotel limousine.
- Respect the women-and-children carriages on the metro and tram and the women's seating areas on buses.