Al Ghubaiba Metro Station Dubai Complete Guide to Timings, Routes And Fares

Al Ghubaiba Metro Station Dubai, is situated at the gateway to Old Dubai, where the wind-tower architecture’s roller coasters and the sophistication of an underground station converge. This guide gathers all the necessary information in one place for people checking individual times, calculating fares, arranging fares, searching for rides near attractions, and more. Don’t hamper switch between 5 different websites, everything from timings, routes, fares, connections, to things to do near the station is all covered below in order! 

Quick Facts

Al Ghubaiba Metro Station Location

Al Ghubaiba Metro Station is located within the Dubai Metro network. The location of Al Ghubaiba Metro Station in the Dubai Metro. Al Ghubaiba Metro Station is situated in Al Shindagha in Bur Dubai, close to 51 Road and Al Ghubaiba Road. Being close to Dubai Creek, this area is traditionally considered the historic center of Dubai.

The station has several access points from Al Ghubaiba road and can easily be accessed by foot from surrounding souks and heritage sites, and the neighboring bus station. The station is in the centre of Old Dubai, right next to The Creek as well as the Souks in Bur Dubai, and Al Fahidi (in fact, it’s a prime location for exploring the city). 

Distance From Key Landmarks

Al Fateen Historical Neighbourhood is about a 10-minute walk from the station, and Textile Souk along Dubai Creek is approximately a 5-7-minute walk from the station. About 12 minutes’ walking from the narrow lanes in the old quarter is the Dubai Museum, which is enclosed in the Al Fahidi fort.

Finally, when coming by car or taxi, the closest paid parking is along Al Ghubaiba Road – a step to the side of all the station entrances, which suggests a Park&Ride option for daytime visitors. 

Exit Guide

There are two marked exits to the station, and on both occasions, it is necessary to retrace a few minutes of steps with luggage in hand, so be sure to go with the right one. 

Exit 1: Leads directly across Al Ghubaiba Road toward Al Ghubaiba Bus Station — the fastest option for anyone connecting to an intercity bus to Sharjah or Abu Dhabi.

Exit 2: Opens onto the local bus stop serving routes 4, 4A, 32C, and E400, and sits closer to the Marine Transport Station and the Creek-facing side toward the souks.

Both exits are step-free, with elevators covering the full route from platform to street level for wheelchairs, strollers, and heavy luggage alike.

Also Explore: Salah Al Din Metro Station

History and Background of Al Ghubaiba Metro Station

The work on Al Ghubaiba Metro Station started in the early 2000s, following the RTA’s commitment to expand the Metro’s network around Dubai. It was started in 2006 in an already developed area in the city, with the challenge of logistics.

It was opened to the public on 9 September 2011 with the opening of the Green Line. Its design is deliberate and is heavily inspired by traditional Emirates architecture, but in a modern way, featuring wind-tower features incorporated into the first floor at the entrances, a feature that will distinguish it from the more contemporary style of other stations in the Dubai Metro network.

RTA public transport ridership statistics for 2026 show it serves an estimated 20,000+ riders per day, making it one of the busiest on the Green Line. This population is attributable to the dual function of the metro stop and the multi-modal interchange. 

Why the Architecture Stands Out

The majority of stations in the Dubai Metro are built using a common design using the elements of glass, steel, and curved rooflines. Al Ghubaiba deliberately does not, instead, borrow wind-tower silhouettes and courtyard possible entrances from the traditional coral-stone buildings of Old Dubai.

This approach brings a vibrancy to the station that lets people know they’re in the neighbourhood even before they enter the subterranean world — something the RTA has adopted at just a handful of other stations where they’re near heritage properties.

There are two floors below ground – an upper concourse for ticketing and gates, and a lower platform level that has two side platforms on both sides of the Green Line. 

Al Ghubaiba Metro Station Timings 2026

Dubai Metro Green Line, including Al Ghubaiba, generally operates from around 5:00 AM until just after midnight on weekdays, with a later start on Sunday mornings and extended hours on Friday and Saturday nights.

Weekday and Weekend Schedule

Monday to Thursday: Trains typically run from approximately 5:00 AM to 12:00 AM (midnight).

Friday and Saturday: Service is extended, often running past midnight to accommodate weekend travel.

Sunday: A slightly later start time applies, generally from around 8:00 AM.

Timings can shift during the UAE National Day, Ramadan, and other public holidays, when the RTA frequently extends operating hours. For exact, real-time first and last train timings on the day of travel, the RTA S’hail app remains the most reliable source.

A short buffer on both ends of the day, plus a quick holiday-schedule check, avoids most surprises on an early morning or late-night trip.

Al Ghubaiba Metro Station Routes and Line Connectivity

Al Ghubaiba is a Green Line station that services multiple trains in both directions to Creek as well as Etisalat. It is not a direct Red Line station, but is connected to the Red Line by a short interchange. 

Transferring to the Red Line

To get to the Dubai Airport terminals, Dubai Marina, Dubai Marina Central, Dubai Mall, and the metro station of the Dubai Duty Free headquarters of Downtown Dubai, passengers have to change trains at BurJuman Station or Union Station on Dubai’s Green Line, both located a few stops away.

This makes Al Ghubaiba a convenient city entrance for both commuters (intercity bus) coming from Sharjah or Abu Dhabi, as they can transfer right onto the Green Line from either transfer point and commute to either endpoint within minutes. 

Approximate Travel Times From Al Ghubaiba

These are typical journey times under normal service, without factoring in platform wait or transfer walking time, which usually adds another 3-5 minutes at interchange stations.

Al Ghubaiba Metro Station Fare and Nol Card Guide

Dubai Metro fares are zone-based, calculated by how many fare zones a trip crosses rather than a flat rate. Al Ghubaiba falls under Zone 6 on the RTA’s fare map, as of 2026.

Daily fare caps apply as of 2026: AED 14 for Silver and Blue Nol cards, and AED 20 for Gold cards. Once a rider hits the cap, further rides on the same day are free until midnight.

Which Nol Card Should You Use

For most tourists and short-stay visitors, a ticket valid for use on the metro, bus, tram, and water bus is a Silver Nol Card costing AED 25 (19 for start-up), available in the current year. The Gold cards are identical in terms of initial price, but will cost twice the distance it would for a Silver card for entry into the weaponry room.

Concession (Blue) cards are available for students, people of determination (with a verified card), and seniors with a Personal card, and are usually around 50% off the standard fare. A card can not be purchased if a person only takes one off-trip; in this case, use a Red Nol Ticket,w which costs AED 2 plus the applicable fare. 

Where to Buy or Top Up a Nol Card

Ticket vending machines at Al Ghubaiba’s concourse level accept both cash and cards for Nol purchases and top-ups. Beyond the station itself, Nol credit can be recharged at more than 2,000 retail points across Dubai, including Carrefour, Lulu, ZOOM, and ENOC/EPPCO fuel stations.

For longer stays, a 30-day Nol monthly pass is worth considering: Silver passes start at AED 140 for a single zone and go up to AED 350 for all-zone unlimited travel, covering metro, bus, tram, and water bus rides together.

Al Ghubaiba Bus Station and Marine Transport Connectivity

Al Ghubaiba Metro Station is located approximately 03 minutes’ walk from Al Ghubaiba Bus Station, which is one of Dubai’s main intercity bus stations, and is near Al Ghubaiba Marine Transport Station on Dubai Creek.

• Intercity buses: Route E306 is included from Al Ghubaiba to Al Jubail Bus Station (Sharjah), and Route E400 is for Sharjah to Abu Dhabi.
• Local buses: include 4, 4A, 11A, 33, 6,6 and X13, and go to the other local areas in Bur Dubai as well as to extensions of the city.
• Marine transport: The traditional abra leaves from the nearby Marine Transport Station and crosses the waters of the Dubai Creek to reach the Deira side close to the Gold and Spice Souks.

The synergy between metro, intercity bus, local bus, and abra makes Al Ghubaiba into a true mixed-mode station, instead of a dedicated metro station. 

How to Reach Al Ghubaiba From Key Areas

The quickest way to enter Al Ghubaiba is dependent on the starting point for a particular trip; however, the actual means of getting around Al Ghubaiba from the popular entry points are outlined here.

From Dubai Mall / Downtown Dubai

Take the Red Line at Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall and change at BurJuman and continue to the end of the line at Emirates Centre, which takes about 25-30 minutes (including the transfer)

From Deira

Deira is opposite to Dubai Creek. There is an abra crossing from the Deira side directly to Al Ghubaiba Marine Transport Station that takes less than 10 minutes and is the quickest.

From Sharjah

The bus E306 departs from Al Jubail Bus Station in Sharjah and passes directly through Al Ghubaiba Bus Station,n which is located only a fminutes”tes walk from the metro station entrance to Al Ghubaiba station, taking around 1 hour 40 minutes to 2 hours for the whole journey (time subject to traffic).

From Abu Dhabi

The E400 intercity bus service runs from the main bus terminal in Abu Dhabi through any of the other terminals to Al Ghubaiba Bus Station, which is right next to the metro station’s Exit 1.

From Dubai International Airport

The best way to get on the train from Terminal 1 or 3 is through the Red Line to BurJuman Station, then change lines in the same area for another 35-40 minutes on the Green Line to Hamim Station.

Outside the metro hours, it remains the quickest way to get from the airport to the destination, as a taxi to get from the airport to the destination is also the cheapest option during the day.

Also Explore: Abu Dhabi Bus Station

Nearby Attractions Near Al Ghubaiba Metro Station

Al Ghubaiba is located in Old Dubai, and a lot of the heritage sites in Dubai city are within walking distance or a quick abra ride from the region without the use of taxi services. 

• Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood — restored wind-tower houses, art galleries, and narrow lanes typical of pre-oil Dubai.
• Dubai Museum at Al Fahidi Fort — one of the city’s oldest buildings, covering Dubai’s history before the modern skyline existed.
• Textile Souk and Dubai Creek — a waterfront market strip that connects, via abra, to the Spice Souk and Gold Souk on the Deira side.

A full day of sightseeing goes hand in hand with dawn visits to Al Ghubaiba to visit Al Fahidi and the Dubai Museum, um after which you head across to the souqs in an abra from Al Ghub,aiba, or you’ll need a taxi as well.

Al Ghubaiba vs Nearby Stations: Al Ras and BurJuman

Al Ghubaiba is often compared with two nearby Green Line stations — Al Ras and BurJuman — since all three sit close together in Old Dubai and serve overlapping neighbourhoods.

Al Ghubaiba wins on intercity bus and marine transport access, Al Ras suits travellers focused on Deira’s Gold Souk side, and BurJuman remains the better choice purely for switching between the Green and Red Lines.

Facilities and Amenities at Al Ghubaiba Metro Station

The station has staff working there every day – longer hours on Fridays – and ticket vending machines and information kiosks at street level and platform level; plus Nol card top-up counters.

There are escalators and elevators to move between the two levels underground, and specific women’s and children’s cabins for each train, with steps indicated on the platform and in the train where they can be reached.

There are paid public parking spaces near the entrances of the station on Al Ghubaiba Road, which is of great convenience for all those who are travelling by car before boarding the metro for the rest of their journey. 

Accessibility Features

The station at Al Ghubaiba is designed to support People of Determination, featuring step-free access into the station from the street and down to the platforms via elevator, tactile flooring, and priority seating is indicated throughout all train caravans.

On request, staff at the information counters can help with wheelchair access, ess and the station has a broad gate lane and will be accessible via this without the need for a separate assisted entry point for wheelchairs. 

Safety Tips and Etiquette on the Dubai Metro

Dubai Metro has very strict parameters for eating, drinking, and behaviour in trains – fines are enforced for eating and drinking on the train and playing loud music on the platform.

This cabin color coding is by law reserved for women and children, and men using the pink, outside business hours, will face fines, even at Al Ghubaiba station, where CCTV cameras and RTA officials are in place to prevent men from using the pink sections of the cabin.

Smoothing the flow of passengers behind the yellow platform line until the doors open, and allowing people to board before they can leave, keeps the flow moving smoothly during Al Ghubaiba’s busier morning and evening hours. 

Tips for Tourists and Commuters Using Al Ghubaiba Metro Station

• Buy or top up a Nol card before entering the platform — cash is not accepted at the ticket gates.
• Travel outside peak hours (roughly 7–9 AM and 5–8 PM) if standing room on a crowded carriage is a concern.
• Check the RTA S’hail app on the day of travel for holiday-adjusted timings, since Ramadan and National Day schedules differ from the standard timetable.

Following these three habits — pre-loaded NOL card, off-peak timing where possible, and a same-day timing check — covers most of the friction first-time visitors run into at this station.

Best Time to Visit Al Ghubaiba Metro Station and Old Dubai

It’s best to explore the area around Al Ghubaiba on foot during the cooler months of the year (November-March), as walking 10-15 minutes to Al Fahidi or Textile Souk is less delightful in summer.

Late afternoon is ideal for visiting nearby attractions, when the light is soft,t and the souks are busiest and most attractive; and the early morning, shortly after station opening, is the quietest. 

What to Double-Check Before You Travel

Timings: Confirm first and last train times on the RTA S’hail app, especially around public holidays.

Fares: Nol card rates are reviewed periodically by the RTA; the figures above reflect the 2026 structure at the time of writing.

Bus routes: Route numbers occasionally change; the digital display boards at Al Ghubaiba Bus Station show the current, live route list.

Conclusion

Al Ghubaiba station is a transport interchange and an authentic window into the history of Old Dubai. It is the hub of timings and fares, of bus connections and marine transport, and of the local attractions at its center – at one station, at one place, in historic Bur Dubai’s center.

From saving time for a fare check to a first-time visit to Al Fahidi or a daily commute onwards to Downtown Dubai, all the ingredients to plan for such are in the sections above; looking for extra steps will make you waste your time. 

Must Explore: Al Rigga Metro Station Dubai

Frequently Asked Questions

What metro line is Al Ghubaiba Metro Station on?

Al Ghubaiba is located on the Green Li,ne and access to the Red Line is available from BurJuman interchange.

Where exactly is Al Ghubaiba Metro Station located?

It is next to Al Shindagha, in Bur Dubai, by the meeting point of 51 Road and Al Ghubaiba Road.

Is Al Ghubaiba Metro Station open today?

Yes, it operates every day; however, the exact train departure/arrival time changes by day of the week.

What time does Al Ghubaiba Metro Station close?

On weekdays around midnight, and Fridays and Saturdays night up to 1:00 AM.

How much is the fare from Al Ghubaiba Metro Station?

They will charge by zones, AED 3 to AED 7.50 for a Silver Nol card, having crossed the zone limit.

Is the station underground or elevated?

Unlike numerous elevated Dubai metro stations, it is completely underground.

Which buses stop near Al Ghubaiba Metro Station?

Riders are also allowed on local routes as well as on intercity buses like E 306 to Sharjah and E 400 to Abu Dhabi.

Can I transfer to the Red Line from here?

Yes, you are to be relocated on the Red Line at BurJuman Station or Union Station.

Which exit is best for Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood?  Exitnumber onn the Creek side and more towards Al Fahidi and the UKs.

When did Al Ghubaiba Metro Station open?

Was opened on 9 September 2011 as part of the Dubai Metro Green Line.

Can I take an abra (water taxi) from here?

Yes, in the neighbouring Marine Transport Station, there is an abras that crosses Dubai Creek.