Living in Dubai without a car works for a month if you choose the area first: in some areas almost every apartment is a short walk from a station, in others almost none is. Of the 424 Dubai units on HotelApartments.com whose map location we could check, 129 are within 500 metres of a metro station in a straight line and 287 within a kilometre. Counting the Dubai Tram and the Palm Monorail (suspended for maintenance at the time of writing), 245 are within 500 metres of a stop.
We measured from each listing’s map location to the nearest operating station, using OpenStreetMap coordinates and the station names on RTA’s current network map, on 27 October 2026. Walking routes are longer than straight lines, and the Blue Line, still under construction, is not included. We left out 24 units whose map location we couldn’t verify.
Living in Dubai without a car: which areas work best?
| Area | Units checked | Within 500 m of a metro station | Within 1 km of a metro station | Within 500 m of a metro, tram or monorail stop | 1-bedroom median (AED a month) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sheikh Zayed Road | 33 | 31 | 33 | 31 | 11,000 (18 units) |
| Dubai Internet City | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 4 units |
| Al Barsha | 26 | 18 | 22 | 18 | 6,700 (11 units) |
| Deira | 43 | 21 | 43 | 21 | 13,750 (20 units) |
| Barsha Heights | 21 | 10 | 17 | 10 | 7,000 (11 units) |
| Al Jaddaf | 21 | 9 | 18 | 9 | 9,600 (7 units) |
| Bur Dubai | 24 | 4 | 20 | 4 | 8,100 (6 units) |
| Dubai Marina | 65 | 9 | 65 | 60 | 17,000 (24 units) |
| JBR | 31 | 0 | 28 | 28 | 9,000 (7 units) |
| Palm Jumeirah | 30 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 14,000 (12 units) |
| Dubai Media City | 10 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 3 units |
| Downtown Dubai | 13 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 15,800 (5 units) |
| Business Bay | 25 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 16,000 (13 units) |
| Festival City | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12,800 (5 units) |
Source: HotelApartments.com listings and market rates, 27 October 2026. The one-bedroom median covers every unit of that size in the area; we show a median only where there are at least five.
Sheikh Zayed Road has the most apartments right by the Red Line, mostly near Financial Centre, Business Bay and Emirates Towers stations. Al Barsha (near InsuranceMarket station) and Barsha Heights (near Dubai Internet City station) combine a station nearby with the lowest one-bedroom medians in the table, AED 6,700 and AED 7,000 a month. In Deira, every unit we could check is within a kilometre of a Red or Green Line station; our Deira vs Bur Dubai comparison goes into detail.
Dubai Marina, JBR and the Palm: tram and monorail
West of Dubai Internet City, the Dubai Tram fills the gaps. On RTA’s network map, it meets the Red Line at the Dubai Marina tram stop (Sobha Realty station) and the Jumeirah Lakes Towers tram stop (DMCC station).
- Dubai Marina: all 65 units are within a kilometre of a Red Line station (Sobha Realty, DMCC or Al Fardan Exchange), and 60 are within 500 metres of a metro station or tram stop, mostly the Dubai Marina Mall and Jumeirah Beach Residence 1 tram stops.
- JBR: there is no metro station, but 28 of the 31 units are within 500 metres of the Jumeirah Beach Residence 1 or 2 tram stops.
- Palm Jumeirah: no unit is within a kilometre of a metro station, but 23 of the 30 are within 500 metres of a Palm Monorail station. The monorail starts at Palm Gateway, about 370 metres from the Palm Jumeirah tram stop, but its operator has suspended the service for maintenance until further notice (checked 29 October 2026): until it reopens, plan on taxis for Palm stays.
- Dubai Media City: all 10 units are within 500 metres of the Palm Jumeirah or Media City tram stops.
For prices by bedroom in Dubai Marina and JBR, see Dubai Marina vs JBR vs Business Bay.
Check the walking route to the station, not just the distance.
Which areas are hard without a car?
- Business Bay: only 2 of the 25 units we could check are within a kilometre of a metro station. Business Bay station is on Sheikh Zayed Road, while most of the buildings we list are further in.
- Downtown Dubai: 6 of 13 units are within a kilometre of Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall station.
- Festival City, Dubailand and Dubai Production City: none of the units we list is within a kilometre of a station.
- Dubai World Central: 4 of its 11 units are within 500 metres of Expo 2020 station; the other 7 are more than a kilometre from it.
In these areas, plan on taxis or a rental car. If you might rent a car later in your stay, 400 of our 448 Dubai units list free parking.
How much does public transport cost for a month?
The metro, tram and buses use the nol card. RTA’s fares page lists, in AED:
| Fare (AED) | Within 1 zone | 2 zones | More than 2 zones (single trip) or all zones (pass) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single trip, Silver card | 3 | 5 | 7.50 |
| Single trip, Gold card | 6 | 10 | 15 |
| 30-day pass, Silver | 140 | 230 | 350 |
| 30-day pass, Gold | 280 | 460 | 700 |
| 90-day pass, Silver | 330 | 550 | 830 |
The Gold class premium applies only on the metro and tram. RTA asks for a minimum balance of AED 7.50 on your card to travel, and offers weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual bundles; ask at a metro ticket office which nol card a pass can be loaded on.
A straight line is not the walk A building 400 metres from a station can be a longer walk if the nearest crossing is a footbridge or the entrance is on the far side of the road. Before you book, check the walking route from your exact building.
Tips for a month in Dubai without a car
- Match the line to your commute. Sheikh Zayed Road, Al Barsha, Barsha Heights and Dubai Internet City are on the same Red Line as Financial Centre, Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall and Business Bay stations.
- Arriving by air: the Red Line stops at Airport Terminal 1 and Airport Terminal 3.
- Book one continuous stay. Almost all our Dubai units (447 of 448) have a 30-night minimum, and one booking keeps the Tourism Dirham, where it applies, to 30 nights.
- Plan journeys with S’hail, RTA’s app for the metro, tram, buses and abras, which suggests routes and times.
For what a month costs by area and bedroom count, see how much a hotel apartment costs per month in Dubai, browse monthly hotel apartments in Dubai, or send us your dates and tell us where you need to get to: we will suggest buildings near the right station.
Frequently asked questions
Can you live in Dubai without a car?
For a monthly stay, yes, if you choose an area near the metro or tram (the Palm Monorail is suspended for maintenance until further notice). Of the 424 Dubai units on HotelApartments.com we could check, 245 are within 500 metres of a stop in a straight line. Business Bay, Festival City, Dubailand and Dubai Production City are harder without a car.
Which areas in Dubai are best without a car?
On our listings: Sheikh Zayed Road (31 of 33 units within 500 metres of a Red Line station), Dubai Internet City (8 of 8), Al Barsha (18 of 26) and Deira (21 of 43, and all 43 within a kilometre). Dubai Marina, JBR and Dubai Media City are served by the tram, and the Palm by the monorail.
How much is a monthly metro pass in Dubai?
RTA lists a 30-day Silver pass at AED 140 for one zone, AED 230 for two zones and AED 350 for all zones. The Gold class pass costs AED 280, 460 and 700.
Is there a metro station in JBR?
No. JBR is served by the Jumeirah Beach Residence 1 and 2 tram stops. Change to the Red Line at the Dubai Marina tram stop (Sobha Realty station) or the Jumeirah Lakes Towers tram stop (DMCC station).
Is Business Bay near the metro?
Business Bay station is on the Red Line along Sheikh Zayed Road, but only 2 of the 25 Business Bay units we could check are within a kilometre of it or another station.
How did you measure the distance to the metro?
As a straight line from each listing’s map location to the nearest operating metro station, tram stop or Palm Monorail station, using OpenStreetMap coordinates and RTA’s current station names, on 27 October 2026. We left out 24 units whose map location we couldn’t verify.
Sources
- Roads and Transport Authority: Dubai Rail Network map (metro and tram stations, interchanges and the Palm Monorail, read on 27 October 2026)
- Roads and Transport Authority: nol fares (single-trip fares and travel passes)
- Roads and Transport Authority: About nol cards (minimum balance and travel bundles)
- Roads and Transport Authority: S’hail app (journey planning)
- OpenStreetMap (station locations, © OpenStreetMap contributors)
- HotelApartments.com: listings and market rates for the areas above, including Sheikh Zayed Road, Al Barsha and Dubai Marina, read on 27 October 2026
Prices and facts checked on 27 October 2026.
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