Dubai Tram
The Dubai Tram (previously the Al Sufouh Tram) system was designed to be an integral part of the Dubai transport network. It runs in a loop around the Marina and JBR area and is integrated with the road network. It also links up with the Dubai Metro and the Palm Monorail. The trams run frequently so you don’t have to wait long for the next one to come along. The system is a driver led tram and uses rails on the roadway as opposed to the Metro which has its own rail system and is driverless.
The current tram system is phase one and there have been further phases planned to expand the coverage of the tram network but these are yet to happen.
Planning
After initially being planned for completion in 2009, when the first phase of the Dubai Metro was completed, it was delayed until 2012. Subsequently to this it was announced that the Dubai Tram System was being delayed by another 2 years and would be ready in 2014. These delays were due to the downturn in the global economic climate.
In 2013 Sheikh Mohammed officially unveiled the designs for the interiors of the trains and of the stations. At this point plans were made to up the tempo of the development of the Dubai Tram so that it would indeed be ready by 2014.
The tram testing was completed on schedule and the first phase of Dubai Tram was opened on 11 November 2014. On the opening day there was an inauguration ceremony. The tram was opened to the public at 6.30am on Wednesday 12th November.
Delays
Many of the RTA traffic projects for Dubai have been delayed in recent years due to the financial situation in the Emirates. It does seem that most of the projects will eventually be completed. This will most likely be once the residential areas are themselves completed and occupied. This means they can ensure full use of the Dubai trams and other forms of transport. There have also been delays due to the covid pandemic.
Operating Hours
The Dubai Tram runs for 19 hours a day from 6.00am until 1.00am Monday to Saturday and 9am until 1.00am on Sunday. The system is aimed at reducing the level of traffic that builds up along the roads around Dubai Marina and JBR.
Further Development
The second phase of the Dubai Tram has been announced which will extend the track by 4km. It will also link the tram network with Mall of the Emirates. There is also a third phase of Dubai Tram planned. The Tram links up with the Dubai Metro and also the Palm Monorail – see the Map page for more information. There are still no dates for when these further phases will happen.
The Dubai Metro has been a great success since it opened, with millions of passengers in the last few years. Tens of thousands of residents are using the transport system for their daily commute. Likewise the tram has been a success, if a bit more limited. One reason is that the tram is seen as slow and also for some routes long. It is a really useful form of transport for the densely populated area around JBR and allows people to travel without needing cars, which is one of the main aims of the RTA.
There was a second route around the JBR loop but this is not currently operating. This previously means that you didn’t need to change to get to certain stations.
The good thing about the tram is that you can link to the Metro at the Marina and JLT stations so that you can continue your journey.
287 Comments
Elisa
Hi, may i know if the Tram is still suspended in the Marina area? I’ll be going to Atlantis on 10 Apr 2015 and now worry what is the alternative to get me there from my hotel at Holiday Inn Express Dubai Airport…
admin
No the tram was only suspended for a few hours so should be working fine then.
Anon
I think the answer is because the tram doesn’t go anywhere, and when it does it’s actually quicker and cheaper to catch an RTA taxi.
For example, I tried the tram with my wife, we went to Mall of the Emirates, the journey from JBR to MoE took 45 minutes from our apartment in JBR to arriving at the mall, it cost 24dhs for the two of us. This journey takes 20 minutes in a taxi and cost less.
The tram line was constructed on the wrong road, it should be located on the road running past the new Beach mall, running the length of JBR walk, this would have had little impact on commuters and residents, no one walks anywhere in Dubai, let alone in the summer months so the location is flawed, people will still want to drive into JBR.
It current location does nothing but cause delays and has severely impacted the traffic and quality of life for JBR residents.
We are cutting sort our lease on our apartment and moving away from the area, JBR is now no more than a tourist attraction and not a residential area if you value your sanity.
RTA have impacted on the situation by introducing ill thought out solutions to a situation they created.
Seabee
Anon I disagree with you that “The tram line was constructed on the wrong road”
It was actually constructed in the complete wrong area!
If a tram was needed it should have been in an area with a high public transport-using population. It should run through Satwa to connect to the Metro to make it easier for all the workers living in Satwa to get to their workplaces.
Anon
I completely agree with Jasmine, the closure of the left turns was a poorly made decision. The traffic in JBR is now as bad as it was during the tram construction. Traffic queues from SZR to get into JBR, I tried to get home last night, it took me 45 minutes to cross the bridge and that’s at 9pm on a Wednesday evening, weekends are worse.
I contacted RTA who said they have done a survey and only 10 minutes will be added to a journey. I saw these men doing the survey at 13:30 in the afternoon, come back in the evening and try again.
The original post on here states the tram will improve traffic in this area, I’m sad to see the only impact the tram has had is worsen traffic and cause frustration to residents of JBR. We watch empty trams crawl around the streets at a snail pace while we sit in traffic.
admin
I agree it’s a shame they decided to close the left turns. The problem is traffic will only be reduced if more people use the trams but at the moment I think the numbers are not as high as maybe they would want. Maybe the question should be why are people sat in their cars in traffic and not sat on the trams? Another problem in Dubai as we all know is that the standard of driving is not particularly high so the closing of the left turns may have been the only way to prevent accidents.
Seabee
“Maybe the question should be why are people sat in their cars in traffic and not sat on the trams?”
The answer is obvious, the tram doesn’t take Dubai residents where they need to go. It’s simply a circular tourist attraction.
Seabee
admin
I disagree. The tram goes from the high density residential areas of the marina and JBR to the high-density work areas of media city and knowledge village.
Seabee
I also have to disagree because the numbers simply don’t add up.
Knowledge Village has a small work staff and very high percentage of visiting students, who don’t live in Dubai Marina. The permanent staff come in from all over Dubai, not just Marina.
Only a small percentage of Media City staff live in Marina, they also come in from all over Dubai. Marina residents work all over the city and Jebel Ali.
At six minute intervals and 405 pax per tram, it will move over 4,000 people an hour. Operating 19 hours a day, that’s a system designed to move over 76,000 people a day.
There’s nowhere near that number who want to get between Marina and Knowledge Village/Media City.
admin
I guess that was just a small example of the fact that I don’t really believe it is primarily for tourists. It is also linked to the Metro to enable access to many other areas. The area around JBR was often gridlocked before the tram was built so I’m not sure you can really blame the tram for that.
Zgoose
Hi there,
How long does it take from JBR2 to Knowledge Village. One of the RTA advisors told me 22 minutes, another said 40! That’s a huge discrepancy! Hope you can help.
Thanks for all the information!
admin
Hi, I don’t think it would take 40 minutes as I believe the whole route takes about that. But it’s likely a bit variable at the moment while the system beds in so probably somewhere in between the two!
Ruth Pearson
Hi, Could you possibly tell me roughly how long the tram takes to get from JBR 2 to Palm Jumeirah (station 9). We are connecting with the monorail to visit the Atlantis, and need plan the times.
Many thanks.
jasmine
I have lived in the marina for 9 years and the recent block of U turn at the last bridge near al Maya because of the tram has caused some horrific traffic and this blokage has not been thought out well for all the residents living in that area. A journey that use to take 25 mins to get home not takes 45-50 mins due to this blokage, not to mention all other alternative routes are heavily congested and also causing delays for other residents in other areas of the Marina as well as Marina mall. Surely a better solution like a level crossing would be better as opposed to a knee jerk reaction of blocking the u turn. RTA should reconsider this and realise the thousands of residents in that area being inconvenienced. Last night i counted 16 people on the tram-hardly seems worth it against the numbers of residents facing problems and delays because of this block.
Fadhel Dawood
Hello there. Dubai has transformed its public transport system tremendously.
I have few questions to ask..
are the tram and metro services owned fully by the government or is it government-private owned?
in terms of fees? how much for the ticket for the tram and metro?
Do the tram and metro stations display advertisement, are there ads on dubai buses?
admin
Hi, I believe the tram is fully owned by the government. Check out the tickets [age for info on prices. Tickets are combined for tram and metro. yes there are ads in the stations and companies can even buy station names if they want to.
Maria
I will be working in Nakheel Sales Centre Office. Is there a nearest station for this Dubai Tram? Appreciate your help on this.
admin
I believe that is right next to the Palm Gateway station if it is the office I am thinking of.
RAMI ABD
HOW TO APPLY FOR JOB IN DUBAI TRAM
admin
Contact the RTA
RAMI ABD
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best regards,
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admin
Contact the RTA for jobs.
Jose George
What is the max speed this Tram can run.
admin
Maximum speed is 50 kph.
abdul janif b.m
i am from India i want to becum a tram driver in dubai please help nd tell me the possibility of becumng a tram driver in dubai..
ashraf
living in Abu Dhabi and would like to just experience tram. Is it compulsory to buy NOL card or can I buy ticket by cash in the counter ?
admin
You need a Nol card but you can buy the cheap red Nol card that you can use just for a couple of journeys.
lara
is this true aunty??
lara
I mean ummm don’t know what to say
I actually dint understand and yeah can I have the map??
isholah
good leadership
Rajeesh
I Would like To Apply Job How Can Find Job In Dubai Tram
Saga
After one week of operation, the Marina Mall ticket automat is out of order, ceilings in the stations are leaking and e.g. Marina station’s elevator is not working (how are you suppose to get up with prams or wheel chair). If you use Nol card, you have to have more balance on your account (the biggest charge they have for the whole route) than what would be the charge for only one stop. Not enough instructions for Nol card users on the stations (reminder in the tram to check out would be good). What happens if you forget to check out? I was really disappointed. It feels you just needed to get this to operate exactly the date when it was suppose to operate and the last work was done in huge hurry (which unfortunately shows).
admin
I agree, I think the RTA always put pressure on themselves to get things completed to a certain date rather than giving it a bit more time that it maybe needs. Hopefully these issues will be ironed out quickly.
Henrike
Was exited to use the tram. Was a bad idea its so freezing cold in there. If you consider taking the tram bring at least a sweater if not a big scarf.
Mohammad Farhad
Dear Madam, i want to know if the fare will be the same as the metro train?
admin
The fares are linked in with the Metro system, so yes, travelling the same number of zones on the tram would incur the same charge as the metro. See the tickets section for more information.
Carl
I don’t know if anyone has noticed but the roof of all your trams are covered in months of thick dust which is visible from 20 floors up in one of the Marina towers. They look like some of the cars you see abandoned.
It might be a good idea to ask someone to clean them.
Carl
admin
Maybe the RTA are waiting for it to rain? 😉 Problem is, when it does rain the dirt will just be washed down the sides of the tram so I’m sure at that point they will give them a good clean, although yes, you would have thought they would have cleaned then before operations started.