Al Rigga Metro Station: Timings, Route, Fares, Exits and Nearby Places

Al Rigga Metro Station is a convenient Red Line stop for exploring Deira and the surrounding commercial areas. It is just a short distance from hotels, restaurants, shops, and local attractions such as Al Rigga Road and Al Muraqqabat. The station also has strong connectivity with Dubai’s major areas via the Red Line, which connects to Dubai International Airport, BurJuman, Downtown Dubai, and more. The fact that it lies in the center makes it an ideal option for locals and tourists living in Deira. This guide gives information on the timings, location, fares, train directions, facilities, places nearby, and useful travel information about this station.

Al Rigga Metro Station at a glance

Al Rigga Metro Station is a basement station ofthe  Dubai Metro on the Red Line. According to RTA, it is identified as R17 between City Centre Deira (R16) and Union (R18).

The station is located in the Al Rigga and Al Muraqqabat area in Deira, which is one of the older commercial areas in Dubai. This is useful for hotel visitors around Al Rigga Road and visitors to the shops, restaurants, and offices around Al Rigga Road.

The Red Line runs between City Centre Deira and Union, with R17 in between, which is confirmed by RTA’s official metro map.

The station was opened in September 2009 as part of the initial Red Line network of the Dubai Metro. Historical station references are generally consistent, indicating 9 September 2009 as the date of opening; RTA’s station map is not based on dates of opening but on the current network.

Where is Al Rigga Metro Station?

Al Rigga Road station is situated on Al Rigga Road, in the Al Muraqqabat area of Deira. Being located where it is, it is readily accessible to the bustling commercial and residential streets in the vicinity of Al Rigga Road.

Hotels, restaurants, retail shops, exchange houses, and everyday services are a specialty of the wider area. This area of Deira is more developed in terms of its urban fabric than stations in other newer business areas, and within a short walk from the station you can enter into the hustle and bustle of the local street network.

The station is also convenient for accessing the historic Deira Clocktower area. According to Visit Dubai, the Deira Clocktower is a landmark at the intersection of Umm Hurair Road and D89, and it was an early link road between Deira and Bur Dubai.

On foot, follow RTA’s journey planner to a specific building, hotel, or shop rather than just a generic station exit description. Follow RTA’s journey planner on foot to a particular building, hotel or shop, as opposed to only a generic station exit description. RTA’s journey-planning service enables users to set their origin, destination, and departure time and pick which mode of transport they want: metro, bus, tram, or marine.

Al Rigga Metro Station timings

Currently, the RTA timetable designates the following hours of operation for Dubai Metro stations:

These are station hours, not the exact time of the last train in each direction. RTA provides separate first and last train schedules as trains departing from and arriving at various stations of the Red Line do so at different times.

If you are travelling late at night, this is important as the difference will be obvious. For instance, RTA’s September 2026 timetables have a different departure time from R17 for the trains heading towards Expo 2020/Life Pharmacy, compared to those heading towards Centrepoint.

Timings may also vary on public holidays and major events as well as special periods. The RTA especially recommends that passengers watch the latest announcements on the RTA’s timetables about the holidays.

Current first and last train information

The following are the scheduled departures from R17 according to RTA’s September 2026 timetable:

Toward Centrepoint

• Mon-Thurs: 1st train about 0500h
• Saturday: first train at 6:15 AM
• Saturday: first train at 05:00 h.
• Sunday: First Train is at approximately 8:16 AM.

Towards Expo 2020 / Life Pharmacy

• Mon-Thur: first train is at  5:00 am – 5:02 am, depending on service.
• Friday: first train is around 5:00 – 5:02 AM
• Saturday: first train 5:00 – 5:02 AM
• Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays: first train at 8:00–8:05 AM

The final scheduled departures are also available in RTA’s published timetable and are dependent on the destination and day of the trip.

These times may vary, so make sure that travellers check the RTA timetable or S’hail just before a late-night journey, not relying on a fixed article that is guaranteed to be the last train.

Which Red Line direction should you take?

Which platform it is depends on your destination.

If you are travelling toward the airport side of Dubai, Centrepoint or stations before Al Rigga, use the train travelling toward Centrepoint. The Red Line sequence at RTA puts Airport Terminal 3, Airport Terminal 1, Al Garhoud, and City Centre Deira in front of R17 in this direction.

In the heart and south of Dubai, use the train to head to Expo 2020 / Life Pharmacy. The subsequent major stations are Union, BurJuman, followed by stops which cater to zones like Downtown Dubai, Business Bay, Mall of the Emirates and Dubai Marina.

This makes the station convenient for people using the station for local travel in Deira as well as for longer journeys throughout Dubai.

Changing to the Green Line

The Green Line does not have a platform at R17. Union (R18/G20) is the nearest Red Line interchange in the direction of central Deira.

RTA designates the Red Line station (Union) and the Green Line station (BurJuman) as the two interchange stations.

Sometimes it may be easier to transfer from R17 to the other end of the Green Line, as opposed to exiting the metro station and taking a bus to the destination.

Metro fares from Al Rigga

Your fare will be based on the number of fare zones that you travel through on your journey, not solely on the station you are travelling from.

The following are the standard fares published by RTA:

Eligible products and concessions are included on the same RTA fare table as separate products and concessions.

Silver Nol cards are good for frequent users of the metro and public transport. The Red Ticket is an option for visitors who are making occasional visits.

What is crucial is to tap in and out properly, as well as maintaining proper balance on the travel card throughout the trip. Estimating fares from the station alone is not as accurate as RTA’s nol and journey-planning services between two destinations.

Station facilities and accessibility

Dubai Metro will have stations that are accommodating to all passengers, including people of determination.

RTA claims that the metro stations are equipped with various accessibility features such as wheelchair space, tactile guidance paths, accessibility facilities for passengers with visual, auditory, and mobility needs, and accessible ticket booths.

The wider accessibility system consists of:

• Paths are provided for passengers who are visually impaired.
• Large and comfortable lifts for wheelchair users
• Accessible ticket counters
• Rail vehicle spaces for wheelchairs
• Audio and visual announcements are provided.
• Accessible entry points
• Spaces that have been adapted for individuals with disabilities.Adapted space for people of determination.

RTA also states that their metro and tram stations have electric elevators and side access gates to provide wheelchair accessibility.

Passengers carrying large luggage, children and/or mobility equipment will in general find it easier to stick to the instructions given at the station and make use of elevators (if available) rather than assume every exit and/or staircase will be the same.

Exits and getting around outside the station

One area of information that is often contradictory between online guides and the physical book is exit information. There are two different major exits described on some third-party pages, and four on others, with various landmarks being given to each of the numbers. Not all these claims are consistently backed up by an accessible RTA text source.

In that case, it is better to use the on-site exit signs and destination signage provided inside the station and not an old article that says a certain hotel or landmark is on a certain exit.

If you are going to the following side of Al Rigga Road, follow signs showing the side you need to take. It is possible to save time by doing a short walk before the building or hotel/business is reached, for a given station/building.

RTA’s journey planner enables planning between locations and can be used to mix Metro and bus service if necessary.

Places near Al Rigga Metro Station

The best thing about the station is that it’s located in a city center area of Deira, which is full of businesses.

Al Rigga Road

The urban corridor around the station is largely comprised of Al Rigga Road. Hotels, restaurants, cafés, shops, and daily services are available in the area, rendering the station useful for both visitors and residents.

This is especially helpful for tourists who book their hotels around Al Rigga and have to travel to Dubai Metro without resorting to taxis for each journey.

Al Ghurair Centre

Al Ghurair Centre is one of the most prominent shopping centres, and you can walk from the station. The centre’s official information about its visitors confirms the walkability to Al Rigga, Union, and Salah Al Din metro stations.

The mall is situated on Al Rigga Road and currently has over 250 shops and over 50 restaurants on its official website. It also has entertainment and dining facilities.

The official timings of the mall are as follows:

• Monday to Thursday: 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM
• Friday to Sunday: 10:00 AM to 12:00 AM

Some shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues have their own hour; please check the individual venues before traveling.

Deira Clocktower

Another iconic landmark nearby is the Deira Clocktower. Visit Dubai calls it “historic monument constructed in 1963, and renovated in 1972”. It is located at the junction of Umm Hurair Road and D89.

The clock tower functions as more of a landmark than a place to be seen on a full day’s visit. Especially useful for those visiting the older part of Deira and the Al Rigga area, to those other historic parts of the district.

How to reach the station by metro

It is easy to get to the station, as it is directly on the Red Line. Take an eastbound train from Centrepoint towards Deira through the airport stations. Immediately before R17 on the route is City Centre Deira.

Spend 20 minutes in the double-decker bus, which departs every half an hour from BurJuman, Downtown Dubai, Business Bay or Mall of the Emirates, heading north to Centrepoint on the Red Line. Immediately after R17, you will come to Union.

Both BurJuman and Union are interchange stations for passengers arriving from the Green Line.RTA advises using S’hail or RTA’s journey planner to find the right mixture of transport modes for a trip by bus.

Is the station useful for airport travel?

Yes. The Red Line offers direct rail service between the Deira area and Dubai International Airport’s Red Line stations.

RTA’s network map shows Airport Terminal 3 at R13 and Airport Terminal 1 at R14, with Airport Terminal 1 coming in at R17 later along the route. This will allow passengers to travel between Al Rigga and these airport stations without changing trains.

The actual time of travel will vary according to the terminal and train services and waiting periods. With luggage, add extra time to walk through the station and airport terminal.

Do not use the published station closing time for a flight only. Look at the real-time train departure for your intended train direction and factor in a margin for travel to the airport.

Tips for using the station

There are a few simple ways to make getting in and out of the station easier. Before getting on or off the bus, always look first. R17 is a line towards Centrepoint and Expo 2020/Life Pharmacy. The platform screen displays the platform number and the next station, so you don’t have to travel the wrong way if it’s not necessary. Use RTA’s current timetable for late travel. A published closing time may be in effect, and the station may stay open until the last train to a specific destination leaves.

Determine the last walk section. When a general “nearest exit” is given, it may be useful to have some idea of where you are going before you exit the airplane; Al Rigga has fairly busy streets and knowing where to go may be more useful than the “nearest exit” instruction. Be prepared with your Nol card. Fares vary between zones, and the current fare matrix by the RTA makes electronic Nol payment easy for frequent use of the metro. Check holiday changes. In cases of public holiday or major event, please refer to the special schedules published by RTA, and be aware that the timings are not necessarily the same ones as during the week.

Conclusion

Al Rigga is not just a convenient station to the metro for one neighbourhood of Deira. It is convenient to use as a hub to access Al Rigga Road, Al Muraqqabat, Al Ghurair Centre, the broader Deira region and as a rail link to Dubai International Airport and central Dubai via the Red Line. The station had the highest ridership of the Red Line stations in the first half of 2026 with 6.4 million passengers, RTA said. To make the trip go well, you should refer to the current RTA timetable for train timings, the official fare information for ticket prices, and rely on S’hail for trip planning. They’re official tools that can be very helpful if you’re traveling late into the night or during a holiday, or when you need precise directions on how to walk.

Read Also: Salah Al Din Metro Station

Frequently asked questions

What line is Al Rigga Metro Station on?

Al Rigga Metro Station is located onthe  Dubai Metro Red Line and belongs to Station code R17. It’s between City Centre Deira and Union.

What are the metro timings?

The station is open on weekdays from 5:00 AM until midnight, and has extended hours on Friday, as well as different hours on Sunday.

Is Al Ghurair Centre near the station?

Yes. Al Ghurair Centre is in proximity to Al Rigga Metro Station and can be reached on foot.

Can I reach Dubai Airport directly?

Yes. There is no change at Terminal 1 or Terminal 3 at Dubai International Airport on the Red Line.

Is the station wheelchair accessible?

Yes. The elevators, wheelchair spaces, accessible facilities, and tactile guidance at Dubai Metro stations are provided by RTA.

Which areas can I reach from the station?

The line will be able to be used directly to reach Deira, BurJuman, Downtown Dubai, Business Bay, Dubai Marina and other Red Line destinations.

Can I change to the Green Line?

Yes. The Red Line can be transferred to the Green Line at the official interchange stations of the Red Line: Union and BurJuman.