Traveling to Dubai by Public Transport Only: Full Guide
Browse more guides: UAE travel | Asia destinations Traveling to Dubai by Public Transport Only: Full Guide Last updated: April 2026 · 11 min read Yes, you can do 80%+ of Dubai with Metro, Tram, Bus, and Abra. Skip the Uber. Buy an NOL Silver card at the airport, load AED 50, and the Red Line will carry you from arrivals to your hotel to almost every sight you've seen on Instagram. I've made multiple Dubai trips entirely on public transit to test feasibility, and the math always works out: under USD $30 covers four to five days of unlimited movement across the city. The honest exceptions: Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, Hatta, the desert safari, and the Atlantis Aquaventure day pass. Those need an RTA intercity bus or a tour van. Everything else inside Dubai proper? Plus plus you're fine. TL;DR: Metro Red, Green, Tram, and buses cover Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall, Marina, JBR, Mall of the Emirates, Old Dubai, and the Burj Al Arab viewpoint. Buy an NOL Silver car...