Using the Metro
The design for Expo 2020 in Dubai has included a full public transport infrastructure to enable visitors to get to the event safely using public transport. A whole new section of the Dubai Metro has been built specifically to link up the existing red line on the metro with the Expo 2020 site.
Originally this was all designed to open in October 2020 when the Expo was supposed to happen, but, due to the global pandemic, this was postponed and the metro line extension also opened at a later date.
The red line extension is now fully up and running and is now incorporated into the metro map that you can find on this site. This means that you can travel on the metro from anywhere in Dubai to arrive at the Expo site. Travelling from one end of the metro to the other may take almost an hour and a half but the cost of a single trip (with a silver Nol card) is only 7.5 dirhams (only UDS $2) so is very good value for money.
In fact you could travel to the Expo site directly from the airport if you really wanted to – this would take around 1 hour and 10 minutes and cost the same (7.5 AED/$2). There is also a free bus service from the airport (see below).
Park and Ride
If you are planning to go to Expo 2020 by car then you can park at Jebel Ali station and take the red line from there. This will take around 18 minutes on the metro. You could also park at Rashidiya if you are coming from further away.
Free Buses
In addition to using the metro to arrive at Expo 2020, there are also free buses that have been announced by the RTA as follows:
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced the deployment of 126 public buses “Expo Rider” to serve Expo 2020 Dubai visitors for free from 9 locations across Dubai. Additionally, two routes will be launched to lift Expo visitors from hotels directly to the site of Expo. RTA will also deploy buses to lift visitors within Expo from the parking area to the Gates in addition to another bus service to lift riders between Expo Gates. Buses will run 1956 direct daily trips from Saturday to Wednesday and the number of trips will rise to 2203 direct trips on Thursday and Friday. The service frequency varies from 3 to 60 minutes.
His Excellency Mattar Mohammed Al Tayer, Director-General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority explained that the RTA had allocated 57 buses to commute Expo 2020 visitors from various locations in Dubai through operating 455 to 476 trips per day. RTA identified 9 stations to serve passengers heading to and from Expo.
The first station is Palm Jumeirah, where 6 buses are allocated to run 54 trips per day in both directions from Saturday to Wednesday, and 57 trips per day in both directions on Thursday and Friday. The service frequency will be 15 minutes.
The second station is Al Baraha, where 7 buses are allocated to run 62 trips per day in both directions from Saturday to Wednesday, and 68 trips per day in both directions on Thursday and Friday. The service frequency will be 30 minutes.
The third station is Al Ghubaiba, a station characterised by integrated various mass transit modes spanning the metro, public buses, marine transport, and taxis. 12 buses are allocated to run 74 trips per day in both directions from Saturday to Wednesday, and 76 daily trips in both directions on Thursday and Friday. The service frequency will be 15 minutes.
The fourth station is Etisalat, adjacent to Etisalat Metro Station on the Green Line. 8 buses are allocated to run 70 trips per day in both directions from Saturday to Wednesday, and 72 trips per day in both directions on Thursday and Friday.
The fifth station is the Global Village where 3 buses are allocated to run 10 trips daily on all weekdays. The service frequency will be 60 minutes.
The sixth and seventh stations are the International City and the Dubai Silicon Oasis Station. 8 buses are allocated to both stations to run 78 trips per day in both directions from Saturday to Wednesday, and 82 trips per day in both directions on Thursday and Friday. The service frequency will be 15 minutes.
The eighth station is the Dubai Mall where 5 buses are allocated to run 55 trips per day in both directions from Saturday to Wednesday, and 59 trips per day in both directions on Thursday and Friday. The service frequency will be 30 minutes.
The ninth station is the Dubai International Airport, where 8 buses are allocated to run 52 trips per day in both directions, seven days a week. The service frequency will be 20 minutes.
Movement Within Expo
His Excellency Al Tayer explained that RTA would also provide two additional services to Expo 2020 visitors. The first service is Expo Parking Shuttle to transport visitors from the car parks to the three Expo Gates (Opportunity, Mobility and Sustainability). RTA has allocated 57 buses for this service to run 1191 trips per day from Saturday to Wednesday, and 1377 trips on Thursday and Friday. The service frequency will range from 3 to 7 minutes.
The second service is Expo People Mover to transport visitors between Expo Gates. RTA has allocated 15 buses for this service to run 310 daily trips from Saturday to Wednesday, and 350 trips on Thursday and Friday. 12 additional reserve busses have been allocated as well.
Buses from the Emirates
RTA had previously announced its plan to transport visitors to Expo 2020 from different emirates. The plan identifies nine locations in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Sharjah, Fujairah, Ajman, and Ras Al Khaimah. 77 buses are allocated for this service to run 193 trips per day on all days of the week, and the number of trips will rise to 213 trips per day on Thursday and Friday.
