Dubai Metro
May 21, 2014
Dubai Metro five-car train
There are currently two lines in the Dubai Metro system. The Metro trains are very comfortable, convenient, and importantly very air-conditioned even throughout the train stations. If you are heading to Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates, Old Souq, and Dubai International Airport, you may probably use the metro system at least once during the visit in Dubai.
Like well-developed Asian metro systems, Dubai metro system is complicated for the first time riders in terms of ticketing, but far more convenient as you ride more often. After arriving in the Dubai International Airport or right after the immigration, I exchanged a little US dollar to local currency and stepped into the Dubai’s Metro system. The staff was so helpful and advised me to get a Silver card, which was useful throughout my five-day trip in town. This Silver card is valid for next five years so it is okay to hold onto it if you are coming back again later in the future.
Like well-developed Asian metro systems, Dubai metro system is complicated for the first time riders in terms of ticketing, but far more convenient as you ride more often. After arriving in the Dubai International Airport or right after the immigration, I exchanged a little US dollar to local currency and stepped into the Dubai’s Metro system. The staff was so helpful and advised me to get a Silver card, which was useful throughout my five-day trip in town. This Silver card is valid for next five years so it is okay to hold onto it if you are coming back again later in the future.
Modern Metro station
I spent 20AED for the card. This card becomes powerful if you are often using Metro because the daily cap is 14AED. Above that amount you spend, it becomes complimentary. In fact, the Dubai Metro is very reasonable and you may not reach 14AED in a day.
My first Metro ride was a short trip from DXB to Al Rigga station, which was my hotel located nearby. There are five cars on each train and the first car is normally the Gold Class, which you have to have a Gold card to be onboard. Otherwise, you will get ticketed. A women-only car is also on the middle of the train. Remaining cars are for any passengers and it is very well specified on platforms.
My first Metro ride was a short trip from DXB to Al Rigga station, which was my hotel located nearby. There are five cars on each train and the first car is normally the Gold Class, which you have to have a Gold card to be onboard. Otherwise, you will get ticketed. A women-only car is also on the middle of the train. Remaining cars are for any passengers and it is very well specified on platforms.
Arabian style Al Ras Metro station
You may experience seeing some “non-yielding” passengers on a train ride. It seems there is no such culture to yield the seat to people with disabilities and elderlies. During most of my Metro rides, young men were ignoring those passengers, who were standing. One old man asked a young man sitting on a seat if he could get his seat. The young man said, “no” right away. The other nearby male passengers sitting on their seats witnessed and they all ignored to yield him a seat.
The culture is different and there is unfortunately no such yielding culture on the train. While ladies in Dubai are treated well provided by a separate train car, elderlies are may be not. Hopping this may change to be more westernized in the near future.
The culture is different and there is unfortunately no such yielding culture on the train. While ladies in Dubai are treated well provided by a separate train car, elderlies are may be not. Hopping this may change to be more westernized in the near future.
