If you have ever stood in the middle of BurJuman Metro Station at 6:00 PM on a Tuesday, you already know it is not just a train stop. It is the beating heart of Bur Dubai. Thousands of office workers, tourists with suitcases, and students pour off the escalators at once, crisscrossing between old heritage neighborhoods and the gleaming towers of Sheikh Zayed Road.
Whether you are trying to reach the Gold Souq without getting turned around, hunting for a custom gaming rig at Computer Plaza, or switching lines on your daily commute to Business Bay, you are going to pass through here eventually. Along with Union Station across the Creek, BurJuman is one of only two interchange hubs in Dubai where the Red Line (R19) and the Green Line (G26) cross paths.
When the station first opened its doors on September 9, 2009, locals knew it as Khalid Bin Al Waleed Station. Even after the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) officially renamed it BurJuman in late 2012, you will still occasionally hear long-time taxi drivers use the old name. Today, it ranks as the second-busiest station in the entire metro network. And because it sits deep underground beneath a massive four-way intersection, picking the wrong escalator or walking out of the wrong exit can easily trap you on the wrong side of an eight-lane road in 40°C heat.
This guide breaks down how to navigate BurJuman like someone who commutes through it every day—covering the exact platform numbers, how to switch lines without getting double-charged, which street exit leads where, fare tables, and the best places to eat, shop, and stay right outside.
Location & Design: Why Everything Glows Blue
BurJuman Station is buried directly underneath the busy junction where Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Street meets Khalid Bin Al Waleed Road, right on the border of Al Mankhool and Al Karama. It also marks a major structural shift in the railway: once trains roll south toward ADCB or east toward Oud Metha, they climb out of the underground tunnels and emerge onto the elevated concrete viaducts that run down the middle of Dubai’s highways.
Instead of building drab concrete boxes underground, the RTA gave its central stations four classical nature themes: Earth, Water, Fire, and Air. BurJuman got the Water (Marine) theme, a nod to the nearby Dubai Creek where pearl divers and wooden dhows built the city’s early economy long before oil was discovered.
What to Look For Inside the Concourse
Next time you are riding the long escalator down from the ticket hall, look up. Hanging from the high ceilings are massive, glowing jellyfish-shaped glass chandeliers. Designed by Czech glass artist Jitka Kamencova Skuhrava, these hand-blown glass and fiber-optic sculptures wash the floors in a cool, blue-and-teal light. Walking through the concourse genuinely feels a bit like moving through an aquarium—a welcome visual break when you have just stepped out of the desert sun.
The acoustics down here are surprisingly good, too. Over the years, the RTA has regularly turned the main BurJuman walkways into live stages for the annual Dubai Metro Music Festival, setting up string players and percussionists right between the fare gates.
Navigating the Interchange: Red Line vs. Green Line
Because two separate railway tunnels cross each other here, the station is stacked like a three-story underground building:
- Mezzanine Level (M): The top underground floor just beneath the street. This is where you will find the Nol card gates, ticket booths, Zoom convenience store, and the long pedestrian tunnels leading to Exits 1, 2, 3, and 4.
- Underground Level 1 (UG1 – Red Line): Sits right below the Mezzanine, running under Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Street with two side platforms (Platform 1 and Platform 2).
- Underground Level 2 (UG2 – Green Line): The deepest level, running perpendicular underneath Khalid Bin Al Waleed Road with two side platforms (Platform 3 and Platform 4).
Platform & Direction Reference Table
Back in late 2020, the RTA assigned permanent numbers to every platform so commuters wouldn’t have to memorize changing terminal names. Use this table to figure out exactly which escalator to take:
| Platform | Metro Line | Direction / Terminal | Next Immediate Stop | Major Destinations on This Route |
| Platform 1 | Red Line (UG1) | Northbound towards Centrepoint | Union (R18) | Deira City Centre, DXB Airport (Terminals 1 & 3) |
| Platform 2 | Red Line (UG1) | Southbound towards Expo 2020 / Life Pharmacy | ADCB (R20) | World Trade Centre, Dubai Mall / Burj Khalifa, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai Marina |
| Platform 3 | Green Line (UG2) | Northbound towards e& (Etisalat) | Sharaf DG (G25) | Al Ghubaiba, Al Ras, Gold Souq, Baniyas Square, Deira |
| Platform 4 | Green Line (UG2) | Southbound towards Creek | Oud Metha (G27) | Lamcy Plaza area, Dubai Healthcare City, Al Jaddaf, Creek Harbour Ferry |
Three Golden Rules for Switching Lines Here
- Never tap out at the gates when changing lines: This is the number-one mistake visitors make at BurJuman. If you ride in on the Red Line and want to switch to the Green Line, do not walk up to the Mezzanine and tap your Nol card at the turnstiles. If you tap out, the system closes your trip and charges you a brand-new minimum fare when you tap back in. Instead, stay inside the paid zone and follow the overhead red or green signs down the transfer escalators directly between Level 1 and Level 2.
- Give yourself 4 minutes for the transfer: During evening rush hour, the escalators linking the Red and Green lines bottleneck quickly. It takes a solid 3 to 5 minutes to walk from a Green Line train up to a Red Line platform.
- Keep to the right for opening doors: All four platforms at BurJuman are side platforms (the tracks run down the middle between the two walls). That means train doors always open on the right-hand side in the direction the train is moving.
The BurJuman Street Exit Guide (Exits 1 to 4)
Because wide roads and central metal fences divide the streets above the station, walking out of the wrong exit means a frustrating 15-minute detour back underground. Check the bright yellow directional signs right after you tap through the Nol gates.
| Exit | Direction & Street Corner | Direct Access | Best For |
| Exit 1 | Southeast Corner (Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed St) | BurJuman Mall, Carrefour, VOX Cinemas, Spinneys, BurJuman Arjaan | Shopping, movies, groceries, and staying in the AC |
| Exit 2 | Northeast Corner (Khalid Bin Al Waleed Rd) | “Bank Street” commercial towers, main RTA Bus Hub, Taxi rank | Catching buses to Jumeirah/Satwa or visiting banks |
| Exit 3 | Northwest Corner (Al Mankhool Side) | Diplomatic Consulates (UK, India, Canada), Grayton Hotel, path to Al Seef | Visa appointments, mid-range hotels, walking to the Creek |
| Exit 4 | Southwest Corner (Karama Border) | Al Ain Centre (Computer Plaza), Park Regis Kris Kin Hotel, Karama dining | Buying laptops/electronics and budget street food |
A Quick Breakdown of Each Exit
- Exit 1 (The Mall Link): If you want to step straight from the metro into BurJuman Mall without touching outdoor humidity, take Exit 1. A cool indoor corridor leads straight into the mall’s lower level near Carrefour.
- Exit 2 (Bank Street & Buses): Historically known as Dubai’s “Bank Street” because of all the financial headquarters lined up along Khalid Bin Al Waleed Road, Exit 2 drops you right beside the busiest RTA bus shelters and the main taxi stand.
- Exit 3 (Consulates & Al Seef): Heading for an embassy appointment or walking north toward the historic Creek? Exit 3 puts you on the quietest residential-commercial corner of Al Mankhool.
- Exit 4 (Tech & Food): Walk out of Exit 4, head straight down the sidewalk for four minutes, and you are inside Computer Plaza. Keep walking another five minutes and you hit the legendary curry houses and shawarma spots of Al Karama.
Operating Hours, Fares & Ticketing (RTA Zone 6)
Fare Zone & Nol Card Pricing Table
BurJuman sits in the middle of RTA Fare Zone 6, which covers Bur Dubai, Deira, and Karama. You cannot pay with cash or tap a credit card at the turnstiles—you need an RTA Nol Card (Silver, Gold, or Blue) or a single-trip paper Red Ticket from the kiosk.
Your fare depends on how many zone borders you cross during your trip. Better yet, if you tap out of BurJuman and tap onto an RTA bus within 30 minutes (as part of a total trip under 180 minutes), the bus and train count as a single merged journey:
| Journey Type | Route from BurJuman | Silver Nol Card | Gold Class Nol Card | Red Paper Ticket |
| Within 1 Zone (Zone 6 only) | Union, ADCB, Gold Souq, Al Ghubaiba, Oud Metha | AED 3.00 | AED 6.00 | AED 4.00 |
| 2 Adjacent Zones | Burj Khalifa / Dubai Mall, Business Bay, DXB Airport (T1/T3) | AED 5.00 | AED 10.00 | AED 6.00 |
| 3 or More Zones | Mall of the Emirates, Dubai Marina, Jebel Ali, Expo 2020 | AED 7.50 | AED 15.00 | AED 8.50 |
Watch Your Minimum Balance: Even if you are only taking a one-stop AED 3.00 ride to ADCB, your Silver Nol Card must have at least AED 7.50 loaded on it (or AED 15.00 for Gold Class) to open the entry gate. If you have AED 6.50, the gate will flash red and block you until you top up at a machine.
General Metro Timings
First and last train times shift by a few minutes depending on which platform you are standing on (for instance, the first weekday Red Line trains roll through BurJuman between 5:09 AM and 5:24 AM). Here are the general operating hours across the week:
| Day of the Week | Opening Time | Closing Time (Last Train Terminal Arrival) |
| Monday – Thursday | 5:00 AM | 12:00 AM (Midnight) |
| Friday | 5:00 AM | 1:00 AM (Following Morning) |
| Saturday | 5:00 AM | 12:00 AM (Midnight) |
| Sunday | 8:00 AM | 12:00 AM (Midnight) |
Late-Night Transfer Warning: If you are out late and need to switch from the Green Line to the Red Line at BurJuman, make sure you arrive at the station at least 35 to 45 minutes before midnight (or before 1:00 AM on Friday night). The very last trains of the night do not wait for connecting passengers on the other level. Keep the RTA S’hail App on your phone to track live train countdowns.
Station Facilities & Rules Worth Knowing
- Zoom Convenience Store: Located on the Mezzanine level—handy for grabbing a cold drink, snacks, or topping up your Nol card. Crucial rule: Finish your coffee or water before scanning through the fare gates. Eating, drinking (even plain water), or chewing gum inside the paid metro area or on the trains carries an on-the-spot AED 100 fine.
- Accessibility & Comfort: The station has free public Wi-Fi, clean restrooms inside the concourse, ATMs, tactile floor strips for visually impaired commuters, and wide elevators connecting all three underground levels to the street.
Onward Connections: Buses, Taxis & Scooters
Because the metro doesn’t reach coastal neighborhoods like Jumeirah or industrial creative hubs like Al Quoz, BurJuman works as a major feeder station for RTA buses.
Key RTA Bus Routes Stopping Outside BurJuman
| Bus Route | Key Destinations Served | Why This Route Matters |
| Route C01 | Satwa Bus Station, Union, DXB Airport Terminal 3 | Runs 24/7—your best option for 3:00 AM airport runs when the metro is shut. |
| Route 21 | Al Ghubaiba, Al Quoz Industrial Area, Mall of the Emirates | Connects Bur Dubai commuters directly to Al Quoz and Alserkal Avenue. |
| Route 29 | Al Ghubaiba, World Trade Centre, The Dubai Mall | A scenic surface-level alternative straight to Downtown Dubai. |
| Route C10 | Hamriya Port, Mercato Mall, Jumeirah Beach Road | Best direct bus link from BurJuman to Jumeirah’s beaches and cafes. |
| Routes 33 & 44 | Al Qusais, Al Rashidiya (Centrepoint), Dubai Festival City | Cross-creek commuter workhorses linking Bur Dubai to eastern Deira. |
Outside Exits 2 and 4, you will also find dedicated cream-roofed RTA Taxi ranks (which you can hail on the spot or book through the Careem app under “Hala Taxi”), alongside municipal e-scooter and bike racks for short hops into Mankhool or Karama.
What to Do, See & Buy Within Walking Distance
You don’t need to hop on another train to find great shopping, electronics, or old-world Dubai charm. Everything below is an easy walk from the station escalators:
1. BurJuman Mall (0 Minutes – Direct via Exit 1)
One of Dubai’s original malls, BurJuman has reinvented itself over the decades into an approachable, high-street shopping spot. Because it connects directly to Exit 1, you can walk straight into Carrefour Hypermarket, catch a movie at the 14-screen VOX Cinemas, browse Zara, H&M, Next, and Brands For Less, or grab a meal at the sprawling third-floor food court and Pavilion dining terrace.
2. Al Ain Centre / Computer Plaza (5-Minute Walk via Exit 4)
Ask anyone living in Dubai where to fix a cracked MacBook screen, build a custom liquid-cooled PC, or haggle over camera lenses, and they will send you to Al Ain Centre—universally known as Computer Plaza. Step out of Exit 4, walk south down Khalid Bin Al Waleed Road for five minutes, and you are there.
3. Al Seef & Dubai Creek (15-Minute Walk via Exit 3)
Walk north from Exit 3 (or ride the Green Line one stop to Sharaf DG) to hit Al Seef, a 1.8-kilometer boardwalk along the historic Dubai Creek. One half looks like a 1950s Arabian coastal village complete with coral-stone wind towers (barjeel), dhow boats, and waterfront Karak tea stalls; the other half is lined with modern restaurants and boutique hotels.
4. Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood & Meena Bazaar (12–15 Minute Walk)
Just northwest of the station sits Al Fahidi (Bastakiya), a quiet maze of pedestrian-only alleys, sand-colored courtyard houses, art galleries, and the Coffee Museum. Right beside it is the vibrant chaos of Meena Bazaar, where shoppers hunt for Indian and Pakistani wedding couture, 22-karat gold jewelry, fabrics, and hot samosas.
5. Al Karama’s Street Food Scene (10-Minute Walk via Exit 4)
Walk ten minutes south of the station into Al Karama and your food budget stretches twice as far as it does in Downtown Dubai. Whether you want banana-leaf Keralite meals, charcoal-grilled Pakistani kebabs, steamed momos, or AED 6 shawarmas at midnight, Karama’s backstreets have it covered.
Where to Stay: Best Hotels Near BurJuman Station
If you want a genuine travel hack for visiting Dubai on a reasonable budget, book your hotel within a five-minute walk of BurJuman. Here is why experienced visitors love this base:
- Zero-Transfer Access Everywhere: Because you are sitting on both metro lines, you get a direct 15-minute train from DXB Airport, a direct 12-minute train to Burj Khalifa, and a direct 7-minute train to the Gold Souq.
- Better Value for Money: Room rates and restaurant meals around Bur Dubai typically cost 30% to 50% less than comparable hotels in Downtown Dubai or the Marina.
| Hotel Name | Category | Closest Exit & Walk Time | Standout Feature |
| Park Regis Kris Kin Hotel | 5-Star Upscale | Exit 4 (2-min walk) | 19th-floor rooftop pool with sweeping views of Old & New Dubai. |
| DoubleTree by Hilton M Square | 5-Star Modern | Exit 3 (3-min walk) | Sleek rooms, spacious suites, and contemporary art decor. |
| BurJuman Arjaan by Rotana | 4-Star Hotel Apartments | Exit 1 (Direct Mall Link) | Massive suites with kitchenettes—ideal for families and long stays. |
| Grayton Hotel Dubai | 4-Star Boutique | Exit 3 (4-min walk) | Quiet, stylish Al Mankhool stay with a great rooftop lounge. |
| Regent Palace Hotel | 3-Star Budget | Exit 1 / 4 (2-min walk) | Directly opposite the mall; lively nightlife and budget room rates. |
| Citymax Hotel Bur Dubai | 3-Star Budget | Exit 4 (8-min walk) | Clean, reliable, pocket-friendly base close to Karama restaurants. |
Three Local Habits That Will Save You Headaches
- Upgrade to Gold Class during the 5:30 PM crush: Between 7:45 AM – 9:30 AM and 5:15 PM – 7:30 PM on weekdays, standard carriages at BurJuman pack shoulder-to-shoulder. If you are hauling airport luggage or traveling with kids during rush hour, buy a Gold Class Nol card. Paying an extra AED 3 to AED 7.50 puts you in the wide leather seats at the very front or back of the train with plenty of room to breathe.
- Watch the pink lines on the platform: One end of every train is strictly reserved for Women and Children—marked clearly with bright pink signs on the platform doors and a striped line on the carriage floor. Men who wander across that line, even by accident in a crowded carriage, face an automatic AED 100 fine from plainclothes inspectors.
- Use the station as a free AC underpass: Even if you have no plans to catch a train, you can walk down into the unpaid Mezzanine tunnels to cross underneath the busy 8-lane Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed intersection in cool air conditioning without waiting at sun-baked traffic lights.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Which metro line is BurJuman Metro Station on?
BurJuman is a major transfer station serving both the Red Line (R19) and the Green Line (G26). You can switch between the two lines underground without walking out through the ticket gates.
2. What was the old name of BurJuman Metro Station?
When it opened in September 2009, it was called Khalid Bin Al Waleed Metro Station, named after the main road above it. The RTA officially renamed it BurJuman in late 2012.
3. Which exit at BurJuman Station leads directly into BurJuman Mall?
Take Exit 1. It connects straight into the lower level of BurJuman Mall (near Carrefour) through an indoor, air-conditioned corridor.
4. Do I need to tap my Nol card when switching from the Red Line to the Green Line?
No. Never tap out at the Mezzanine turnstiles when changing lines at BurJuman, or you will be charged for two separate trips. Just follow the overhead directional signs down the internal transfer escalators between Underground Level 1 (Red Line) and Level 2 (Green Line).
5. How do I get from Dubai International Airport (DXB) to BurJuman by metro?
Hop on the Red Line southbound (towards Expo 2020 / Life Pharmacy) from either Terminal 3 (R13) or Terminal 1 (R14). BurJuman (R19) is a direct 12-to-15-minute ride with no transfers needed, costing AED 5.00 on a Silver Nol Card.
6. How many stops is BurJuman from Burj Khalifa / Dubai Mall?
Board the Red Line on Platform 2 (towards Expo 2020 / Life Pharmacy). The Burj Khalifa / Dubai Mall station (R25) is 6 stops away, taking around 12 to 14 minutes.
7. Which exit is closest to Computer Plaza (Al Ain Centre)?
Use Exit 4. Once you come up the escalator to street level, walk straight ahead down Khalid Bin Al Waleed Road toward Karama for 4 to 5 minutes—Al Ain Centre (Computer Plaza) is right on your right-hand side.
8. What RTA fare zone is BurJuman Metro Station in?
BurJuman is in RTA Fare Zone 6. Any trip that stays inside Zone 6 (like riding to Union, Gold Souq, Al Ghubaiba, or ADCB) costs the lowest single-zone fare of AED 3.00 on a Silver Nol card.
9. Does BurJuman Metro Station have free commuter parking?
No, BurJuman does not have a dedicated RTA Park-and-Ride lot (those are located at end-of-line stations like Centrepoint, e&, and Jebel Ali). However, BurJuman Mall has multi-level underground parking that gives shoppers the first 3 hours free on weekdays and free parking on Sundays/public holidays.
10. How do I reach the Dubai Gold Souq and Al Seef from BurJuman?
For the Gold Souq, head down to Platform 3 (Green Line towards e&) and ride 4 stops to Gold Souq Station (G22). For Al Seef, you can either walk 12–15 minutes north out of Exit 3, or take the Green Line just one stop from Platform 3 to Sharaf DG (G25) and walk 5 minutes to the Creek waterfront.
