Line⇄ Interchange (Red + Green)
Station IDR18
ZoneZone 1
Operating Hours05:00–00:00
Nol ZoneZone 1
Accessibility♿ Full Access
Status

About Union Metro Station — Red & Green Line Interchange

Union metro station (R18/G20) is the primary interchange between the Red Line and Green Line on the Dubai Metro, located in the Deira district of eastern Dubai in Nol Zone 1. This fully underground station sits at the junction of Omar Bin Al Khattab Road and Al Ittihad Road, making it a central hub for passengers travelling across the network. Two dedicated platforms serve each line, connected by an internal transfer corridor that keeps interchange passengers within the paid zone at no extra charge.

Union Metro Station opened in September 2009 as part of the inaugural Red Line launch, with the Green Line connection following in March 2012. As one of only three interchange stations on the entire Dubai Metro network — alongside BurJuman and Al Qiyadah — Union handles an exceptionally high volume of daily passengers. It serves as the critical connection point between the Red Line's downtown corridor and the Green Line's coverage of Al Qusais, Deira, and Bur Dubai.

The station is situated in the Naif sub-district of Deira, one of Dubai's oldest commercial zones. The immediate area includes Naif Souq approximately 400 metres south, the Deira Street Market, and several budget to mid-range hotels along Al Ittihad Road within 300 metres of the exits. The historic Naif Police Fort, built in 1939 and now a heritage site, stands approximately 600 metres south of the station on Naif Road.

From union metro station you can reach Dubai International Airport Terminal 3 in approximately 18 minutes, Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall in about 20 minutes, Mall of the Emirates in roughly 35 minutes, and Gold Souq Station in approximately 6 minutes on the Green Line. BurJuman interchange — the next stop south on the Red Line — is just 3–4 minutes away and provides onward Green Line connections for Bur Dubai destinations.

This station is used by daily commuters working in Deira's offices and markets, shoppers visiting the Naif district, tourists heading to the Creek waterfront, and transit passengers using the union metro deira interchange to switch between lines. For first-time visitors, the key tip is to check which line and platform you need before tapping in — both lines share the same entrance gates but depart from separate platforms. Lifts and escalators serve all levels, making it suitable for passengers with luggage or reduced mobility.

Opened
September 2009
Platform Type
Underground
Platform Doors
Yes
Gold Class
Yes (Car 1)
Women & Children Car
Yes (Car 3)

About Deira Naif — Union Metro Station Area

Deira is one of Dubai's oldest and most historically significant districts, and the Naif sub-district around union metro station reflects that heritage clearly. The area developed as one of Dubai's first commercial zones and today remains a lively, densely packed neighbourhood of small retail shops, traditional restaurants, money exchange offices, and budget hotels. Al Ittihad Road, running alongside the station, carries significant traffic between Deira and the creek crossings toward Bur Dubai.

The parallel streets of Naif are lined with textile merchants, spice traders, and perfume shops — reflecting Deira's long role as a trading hub connecting Dubai to South Asia, East Africa, and Iran. Naif Souq, approximately 400 metres from the station, is one of the oldest covered markets in the city. The historic Naif Police Fort, constructed in 1939, is a short walk south and provides context for Dubai's pre-oil era. This is an area where the metro union red green line connection proves particularly useful, allowing visitors to reach the Creek waterfront and Al Seef District directly from the Green Line.

For visitors, Deira offers an older side of Dubai quite different from the downtown glass towers. Practical advice: exchange rates on Naif Street are competitive and many market vendors accept cash only, so carry dirhams for market shopping. The area is busiest between 09:00 and 21:00 on weekdays. Several inexpensive restaurants along Naif Road offer Pakistani, Indian, and Emirati cuisine for under AED 25 per meal. The metro station's underground location keeps arrivals cool and comfortable even in summer.

Interchange (Red + Green) — Nearby Stations

Adjacent stations on the line.

City Centre Deira R16 Visit →
Al Rigga R17 Visit →
Union R18 ← You are here
BurJuman R19 Visit →
ADCB R20 Visit →

Nearby Places

Verified places at or within walking distance of Union Metro Station.

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Deira Street Market

Naif, Deira · Bustling street market for everyday goods, clothes & electronics

An active open-air and covered street market in the Naif district, selling clothing, accessories, household items, and electronics at prices well below mall retail. Most vendors accept cash only. The market is busiest on weekend mornings and during Ramadan evenings. Walk south from the station on Al Ittihad Road for approximately 500 metres to reach the main market area. No entry fee.

★ 4.1 ~500m walk
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Naif Park

Naif, Deira · Shaded community park in the historic Naif district

A shaded public park in the Naif district providing benches, walking paths, and green space in an otherwise densely built commercial area. Open daily from early morning until late evening with no entry fee. The park offers a useful rest stop between the metro station and Naif Souq, approximately 600 metres on foot south from the Union Station exits on Al Ittihad Road.

Parks ~600m walk
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Naif Souq

Naif, Deira · Historic covered market popular for textiles & perfumes

One of Dubai's oldest covered markets, specialising in traditional perfumes, textiles, abayas, and household items at prices lower than mall equivalents. This is a working local market that caters primarily to residents. Open approximately 09:00–22:00 with a midday break around 13:30–16:30. Carry cash as many vendors do not accept cards. Located approximately 400 metres south of the station exit on Naif Road.

★ 4.3 ~400m walk
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Al Ittihad Road Hotels

Al Ittihad Road · Several 3–4 star hotels convenient for transit passengers

Al Ittihad Road alongside the station has several business hotels suited to transit travellers or visitors exploring Deira on a budget. Most properties sit within 300 metres of the metro exits with 24-hour reception. Room rates are typically lower than equivalent Downtown properties. Request a room facing away from Al Ittihad Road to avoid road traffic noise overnight.

Hotels ~300m walk

How to Use Union Metro Station Metro Station — Line Transfers Explained

Union Metro Station is one of only three interchange stations on the Dubai Metro, serving both the Red Line and the Green Line. Here is how to enter, transfer, and exit the station correctly.

  1. Tap your Nol Card at the entrance gates to enter the paid zone. Check your card balance before entering — the minimum balance for travel is AED 3.00. Top-up machines are available at the station entrance and inside the concourse.

  2. Overhead LED screens show the next trains on both the Red Line and Green Line with real-time departure countdowns. Confirm your line, direction, and next stop before heading to the platform. If you are unsure, station staff are available at the information desk.

  3. To switch from the Red Line to the Green Line (or vice versa) follow the clearly signed transfer corridor inside the station. You do not need to tap out and tap back in — the RTA system treats a transfer within 45 minutes as one continuous journey at no extra charge.

  4. Stand behind the yellow line until the doors open. Allow alighting passengers to exit first then board. Car 1 (front of train) is Gold Class — a higher fare applies. Car 3 is reserved exclusively for women and children. All other cars are standard Silver Class.

Peak hour advice: This station is one of the busiest on the network during morning (07:00–09:00) and evening (17:00–19:30) rush hours. If transferring between lines during these times allow an extra 8–12 minutes in your journey plan. The transfer corridor is fully air-conditioned.

Getting There

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By Metro

Interchange (Red + Green), Station R18. Hours: 05:00–00:00 (Mon–Thu, Sat–Sun); 10:00–01:00 (Friday).

Interchange (Red + Green) R18
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By Bus

Multiple RTA bus routes stop at or near Union Metro Station, serving destinations across Deira and beyond. Route 8 connects Union to Al Ghubaiba Bus Station in Bur Dubai via the Creek crossing. Route 15 runs to Al Qusais and the Dubai Airport Freezone area. Route 42 serves the Naif and Al Murar areas of Deira. Routes C1 and C10 are feeder routes connecting nearby residential communities to the metro. All routes operate from the bus stop directly adjacent to the station exit and accept Nol Card payment — cash is not accepted on RTA buses.

81542C1C10
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By Taxi / Ride-Hail

RTA metered taxis are available from the station exit on Al Ittihad Road. Careem and Uber also operate in this area — use the app to set your exact pick-up point as the busy road can make street hailing difficult during rush hour. Taxis to Downtown Dubai cost approximately AED 25–35. Al Ghubaiba Abra Station for creek crossing by water taxi is approximately 1.5 kilometres south by taxi or bus.

Walking Distances from Station

700m
Al Qusais Industrial Area
Industry
1km
Hamriya Free Zone
Business
500m
Deira Street Market
Shopping
600m
Naif Park
Parks
300m
Al Ittihad Road Hotels
Hotels

Nol Card Fares from Union Metro Station — Zone 1

Union Metro Station is in Zone 1 of the Dubai Metro fare system. Your fare depends on how many zones your journey crosses. The table below shows Silver and Gold Nol Card fares to the most common destinations from this station.

Destination Metro Station Silver Nol Card Gold Nol Card
Dubai International Airport T1Terminal 1 (R14)AED 8.00AED 11.00
Burj Khalifa / Dubai MallBurj Khalifa/Dubai Mall (R23)AED 3.00AED 6.00
Mall of the EmiratesMall of the Emirates (R25)AED 5.00AED 10.00
Jumeirah Lakes TowersDMCC (R27)AED 5.00AED 10.00
Gold Souq / Old DeiraGold Souq (G10)AED 3.00AED 6.00
Creek (Green Line terminus)Creek (G11)AED 3.00AED 6.00
Expo City DubaiExpo 2020 (R35)AED 6.50AED 13.00

Fares shown are for Nol Card holders. Red Paper Tickets cost approximately 50% more per journey. Children under 5 travel free. A daily spending cap of AED 20 (Silver) and AED 40 (Gold) protects frequent travellers — once you hit the cap all further journeys that day are free. Airport stations carry an additional RTA airport surcharge of AED 5.00 per trip.

Best value: A Silver Nol Card costs AED 25 total (AED 6 card fee + AED 19 travel credit) and is available at every metro station vending machine. It works on all RTA transport including metro, bus, tram, and water bus. For stays of 5 or more days it saves significantly over paper tickets.

Visitor Tips

Practical advice for using this station.

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Use a Nol Card

Top up your Nol Card at station vending machines (cash or card accepted). Zone 1 applies here — AED 3.00 (Silver) / AED 6.00 (Gold) per single journey. A daily fare cap protects frequent travellers.

Changing Lines

Union is where the Red and Green Lines meet. Follow the signed transfer corridor inside the station — no need to exit the paid zone or re-tap your Nol Card when changing lines.

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Operating Hours

Metro runs 05:00–00:00 Monday–Thursday and Saturday–Sunday. On Fridays the service starts late: 10:00–01:00. Plan accordingly for early Friday mornings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Union operates 05:00–00:00 Monday to Thursday and Saturday to Sunday. On Fridays the station opens later: 10:00–01:00. Trains run every 3–7 minutes at peak times and every 7–10 minutes off-peak.
Nol Card vending machines are installed at all Dubai Metro stations and accept cash and bank cards for self-service top-ups around the clock. For card purchase or account registration, visit an RTA customer service counter at a major station or the rta.ae website.
Follow the signed transfer corridor on the station concourse between the Red and Green Line platforms. No need to exit the paid zone or re-tap your Nol Card — the transfer is included within your single journey fare.
Union Metro Station is in Deira, Dubai — a major interchange connecting the Red Line (R18) and Green Line (G20). It is on Al Ittihad Road, between Al Rigga (R17) and BurJuman (R19) on the Red Line. Being an interchange, it is one of the busiest stations on the network.
Deira Street Market — a busy local bazaar — is about 500 metres from Union Station. Naif Souq (textiles and perfumes) is approximately 400 metres. Several 3–4 star hotels along Al Ittihad Road are within 300 metres, making Union a practical base for budget travellers exploring Deira and old Dubai.
Union Metro Station has multiple exits. Check the exit map displayed at the top of the stairs inside the station, or use the RTA Dubai app which shows numbered exit locations on a map. The app will suggest the exit closest to your specific destination. If in doubt, station staff near the gates can advise on the quickest route out.
Yes, passengers are permitted to bring personal luggage including standard suitcases on the Dubai Metro. Each train has designated luggage areas near the doors. Large or oversized items are not allowed during peak hours (06:00–09:00 and 17:00–20:00 on weekdays). Union Metro Station has elevators and wide corridors making it suitable for passengers with luggage. Keep bags out of the aisles and do not place them on seats.
The RTA Nol Card daily cap is AED 20 for Silver Card holders and AED 40 for Gold Card holders. Once your spending reaches the cap in a single calendar day all further metro journeys that day are free. The cap resets at midnight. This makes the Nol Card excellent value for people making multiple trips in one day. The cap applies to metro, bus, tram, and water bus journeys combined. You can check your current day spend in the RTA Dubai app or at any ticket machine.
No. Transferring between the Red Line and the Green Line at Union Metro Station does not cost extra as long as you complete the transfer within 45 minutes. The RTA system treats it as one continuous journey — you tap in once at the start and tap out once at your final destination. If you exit the paid zone and re-enter you will be charged as a new journey. Simply follow the transfer corridor signs inside Union Metro Station without going through the exit gates.
The transfer corridor at Union Metro Station between the Red Line and Green Line platforms takes approximately 3–5 minutes to walk. During peak hours allow an extra 5 minutes as the station is heavily used. Trains on both lines run every 3–4 minutes during peak hours and every 7–8 minutes off-peak, so the maximum wait for your connecting train is usually under 8 minutes. The entire interchange process including walking and waiting typically takes 8–15 minutes.