Dubai Tram

The Dubai Tram is a tramway line that runs around the residential district of Dubai Marina, then connecting to Al Sufuoh Road until it reaches the interchange with the Dubai Monorail, the monorail that runs the length of the artificial island of Palm Jumeirah, and continues further to the heart of the Al Sufouh district.

The Dubai Tram is the first tramway outside Europe to be powered by a magnetically attracting electric transport system, travelling a distance of 10.6 kilometres and serving 11 stations. The inauguration ceremony took place on11 November 2014 in the presence of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai.

Like many projects in Dubai that were set up during the crisis years, the Dubai Tram also suffered considerable delays due to economic problems: it was supposed to be complete by April 2011. A second phase of the project, the construction of which will start in the next few years, will include eight more stations along a further four kilometres of the route, reaching as far as the Burj Al Arab.

Route of the Dubai Tram

The Dubai Tram operates 20 hours a day, and to complete the entire route from the first station (Jumeirah Beach Residence 1) to the last (Al Sufouh) takes 36 minutes, reaching a maximum speed of 50 kilometres per hour. However, the average speed is much lower, as for safety reasons the tram slows down to a near standstill at every change of direction or carriageway.

The Dubai Tram stops are numbered 1 to 11: starting from Jumeirah Beach Residence (stops 1 and 2), the route goes around Dubai Marina until it intersects (stop 3) with metro stop 37, Jumeirah Lakes Towers.

Continuing parallel to the metro and Sheikh Zayed Road, the tram stops at Dubai Marina Mall (stop 4) and intersects again with the metro (stop 5), this time with stop 36, DAMAC Properties.

The last stop within the Dubai Marina district is the sixth: from here onwards it travels the length of Al Sufouh Road, stopping at Mina Seyahi (stop 7), Media City (stop 8), Palm Jumeirah (stop 9, intersection with the Dubai Monorail), Knowledge Village (stop 10) and ends its journey at stop number 11, Al Sufouh.

How to buy tickets

Tickets for the Dubai Tram are the same as for the bus or metro. All stations are within zone 2, so the ticket price is the same regardless of the length of the journey on board. You can pay with a Nol Card (either a red single ticket or a silver rechargeable season ticket) by swiping it at the terminals before boarding the tram and then again once you get off; there are no turnstiles so be careful not to forget to validate your journey, as checks are frequent and you could face heavy fines.