Dubai Metro vs Dubai Tram: They're Not the Same System
The Dubai Metro and Dubai Tram are separate but connected systems. Here's the real difference, where they meet, and how transfers work.
It's an easy mix-up, since they share the same Nol card and even connect at two stations, but the Metro and the Tram are genuinely different systems built for different jobs.
What separates them
The Metro is the big network: two lines, around 66 stations, mostly elevated, covering most of Dubai. The Tram is much smaller and runs at street level along a single 10.6 km route, serving only Dubai Marina, JBR, and Al Sufouh, essentially the corridor where a full Metro line was never built.
Because it shares some road-level crossings, the Tram runs noticeably slower than the Metro. It exists to serve a dense residential and tourist strip, not to move people across the whole city.
Where they connect
You can transfer between the two at DMCC and Sobha Realty stations (formerly known as Jumeirah Lakes Towers and Dubai Marina stations). Both use the same Nol card, and there is no extra fare just for making the transfer itself, only the total zones your full journey crosses.
- Metro: 2 lines, ~66 stations, mostly elevated, citywide coverage
- Tram: 1 line, 10.6 km, street-level, Marina/JBR/Al Sufouh only
- Connect at DMCC and Sobha Realty stations
- Same Nol card works on both, no separate transfer fee
Explore more guides
Visit the full guide section for more Dubai Metro travel pages, route tips, and area guides.