Riding the Dubai Metro with Kids: A Family Guide
The Dubai Metro is genuinely family-friendly: children under five ride free, every station has lifts, and kids adore the driverless front-window view. Here's everything parents need.
Fares for Children
| Age | Fare |
|---|---|
| Under 5 | Free — no card needed, walk through the wide gate with you |
| 5 and above | Standard fares; school/university students can register for a Blue (Personal) Nol card for ~50% off (how to get one) |
Strollers, Lifts & Gates
- Strollers are welcome — every station has lifts from street to concourse to platform; skip the escalators with a pram.
- Use the wide accessible gate beside the standard gates for stroller + child entry.
- On board, park the stroller in the open areas by the doors and apply the brake — trains accelerate briskly.
Where to Sit
Mums with kids can use the calmer Women & Children cabin at the front (dads ride the standard cabins — the whole family together in standard is the usual choice). The kids' jackpot seat is the front window of the first standard cabin: driverless trains mean a full driver's-eye view of the track.
Rules That Catch Families Out
- No eating or drinking — including kids' snacks, juice and water — anywhere past the gates. Feed and water everyone before tapping in (fines apply).
- Keep little hands off the emergency handles — misuse carries the network's biggest fine.
The Perfect Metro Day Out with Kids
- Morning: Oud Metha → Creek Park, Children's City and the Dolphinarium.
- Midday: Green→Red at BurJuman → Mall of the Emirates for lunch and watching the Ski Dubai penguins/slopes.
- Afternoon: back along the Red Line to Dubai Mall — aquarium tunnel (free to walk past), waterfall, and the 6 pm fountain show.
The whole day's trains cost at most AED 14 per adult (the daily cap) and nothing for under-fives. Plan legs on the fare calculator.
Planning more journeys? Start from the Dubai train map — every line, station and fare zone on one page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do children pay on the Dubai Metro?
Children under 5 travel free without a card. From age 5, standard fares apply, though registered students qualify for roughly 50% off with a Blue (Personal) Nol card.
Can I take a stroller on the Dubai Metro?
Yes — all stations have lifts and wide accessible gates, and strollers ride in the open door areas of the train with the brake on.
Which metro cabin is best for families?
Mothers with children can use the reserved Women & Children cabin at the front; families travelling with dad typically ride together in standard class — kids love the front-window view in the first standard car.