The Dubai Tram runs from JBR to Al Sufouh for about AED 3 a trip, and the Palm Monorail then takes you from Gateway to Atlantis in about 9 minutes. The tram has 11 stops and links to the Red Line at DMCC and Sobha Realty; the monorail has its own tickets, a train every 15 minutes and stops only on the Palm's trunk. This guide covers stops, fares, hours, the walk between the two, and the day a taxi or a boat is better.
By SB Excursions · Published 29 October 2026 · Updated 29 October 2026
Tour on this route: Dubai Marina Shared Yacht Tour — From $32 per person, 1 hour.
How much is the Dubai Tram?
About AED 3 for most rides with a Nol card, using the same zone fares as the Metro. A Silver Nol card is about AED 25 with AED 19 of credit. Trams run from about 6 AM to 1 AM, with a later start on Sundays; check the S'hail app for the day's times.
This guide also answers:
- How much is the Palm Monorail?
- How do I get from the Metro to the Palm Monorail?
- What time does the Palm Monorail run?
Five stops worth the ride
#1
JBR Beach and The Walk
The two JBR tram stops put you a few minutes from the sand and the strip of cafes and shops on The Walk. It is the tram's most useful stretch for visitors: a few dirhams from the Marina, air-conditioned, and no parking to pay. In summer, do the beach early or late, because the midday sand is too hot.
#2
Marina Walk and the yacht pier
The Marina stops put you by the promenade and the mall, and both Metro stations connect here. Our cruises leave from the pier behind Al Majara Tower: from the Metro it is a tram stop, a short taxi or about a 10-minute walk, and the confirmation we send carries the exact pin.
#3
Bluewaters and the Ain Dubai view
From JBR a footbridge leads to Bluewaters Island, where the big wheel is a landmark to look at rather than to ride. The best view of it comes from the water: our shared yacht tour from $32 stops for photos right in front of it, which a walk along the shore cannot match.
#4
Palm Jumeirah Mall and The View
The mall stop is the practical one for the Palm Tower, where The View at The Palm has its terrace. It sits on the trunk, so the fronds and their beaches are still a taxi away. Check the opening times of the viewing deck before you go, and go before sunset for the best light.
#5
Atlantis and Aquaventure
The last stop drops you at the Atlantis resort, the end of the line and the main reason most visitors ride the monorail. Trains leave every 15 minutes and the last one is in the evening, so allow time before dinner ends. The Palm from the sea is a different view: our 90-minute speedboat tour rounds the crescent.
Palm monorail and Dubai tram: the short answer
The Dubai Tram links JBR, the Marina and the Palm gateway for about AED 3 a trip. The Palm Monorail then runs from Gateway to Atlantis in about 9 minutes. The tram has 11 stops, takes the same Nol card as the Metro and connects to the Red Line at two stations, DMCC and Sobha Realty. The monorail has its own tickets, one route of about 5.5 km, and fares reported at from about AED 5 for a short hop and AED 10 one way for the full ride.
Together they are the cheapest way from the Metro to Atlantis, but not the quickest. A taxi from the Marina is about AED 35-50 and 20-30 minutes, while the tram, the walk and the monorail take closer to an hour. The honest limit is that the monorail only serves the trunk: the beach hotels on the fronds and the Palm's beach clubs are still a taxi from the nearest stop.
Tram or monorail: which do you need?
The tram covers the coast from JBR to Al Sufouh, and the monorail covers the Palm's trunk. Most trips need one of them; the Atlantis trip needs both.
| You are going to | Use | Last leg |
|---|---|---|
| Marina Walk, JBR Beach, The Walk | Red Line to DMCC or Sobha Realty, then the tram | Walk from the tram stop |
| Bluewaters Island and the Ain Dubai view | Tram to JBR | Footbridge from the JBR end |
| Mina Seyahi and Media City | Tram | Short walk |
| Atlantis The Palm and Aquaventure | Tram to Palm Jumeirah, walk to Gateway, then the monorail | Monorail to the last stop |
| The View at The Palm, Palm Jumeirah Mall | The same, getting off at Palm Jumeirah Mall | Walk from the stop |
| Hotels and beach clubs on the fronds | Monorail or taxi to the trunk, then a taxi | Taxi from the nearest stop |
| Burj Al Arab and the Jumeirah beaches | Neither: taxi, or the Metro to Mall of the Emirates and a taxi | Taxi |
Check the S'hail app for the live map and the current stops.
Dubai Tram: stops, fares and hours
The tram runs at street level along Al Sufouh Road and Jumeirah Beach Road, with 11 stops between JBR and Al Sufouh. It is air-conditioned, it has platform doors, and you tap in and out with a Nol card as on the Metro. The RTA prices it by zone like the Metro, and most rides come to about AED 3. A Silver Nol card is about AED 25 with AED 19 of credit, and the same card covers the Metro, buses and tram. Trams run from about 6 AM to 1 AM, with a later start on Sundays; check S'hail for the day's times.
The Metro's rules apply on board: no eating or drinking, and the same fines. The detail on cards and zones is in the Dubai Metro guide.
| Stops | What is there | Connection |
|---|---|---|
| JBR 1 and JBR 2 | JBR Beach, The Walk, the Bluewaters footbridge | On foot |
| Jumeirah Lakes Towers | JLT cafes and offices | Interchange with DMCC Metro station |
| Dubai Marina Mall and Dubai Marina | The mall, Marina Walk, the promenade | Interchange with Sobha Realty Metro station |
| Marina Towers, Mina Seyahi, Media City | Marina hotels, beach resorts, Media City offices | On foot or a short taxi |
| Palm Jumeirah | The foot of the Palm trunk | Walk to the monorail's Gateway station, about 10 minutes |
| Knowledge Village and Al Sufouh | Campuses and the quieter coast road | On foot or a short taxi |
Check the current RTA map; station names and fares are adjusted from time to time.
Palm Monorail: stops, fares, hours
The Palm Monorail runs along the trunk of Palm Jumeirah, about 5.5 km from Gateway to Atlantis Aquaventure, with stops including Al Ittihad Park and Palm Jumeirah Mall on the way; the operator's map is the last word on the stops. Khaleej Times and Gulf News reported in July that it reopened after about six months of maintenance, and the operator's timetable is the one to trust.
The reports differ on fares, so treat these as a guide: from about AED 5 for a short hop, and about AED 10 one way and AED 15 return for the full Gateway to Atlantis ride. Tickets are sold online and at the stations, and the reports we saw do not mention Nol, so carry a card or cash and ask at the counter.
| Palm Monorail | |
|---|---|
| Route | Gateway, Al Ittihad Park, Palm Jumeirah Mall, Atlantis Aquaventure |
| Length and time | About 5.5 km, about 9 minutes end to end |
| Frequency | About every 15 minutes, all week |
| Hours | About 9 AM to 10 PM; first train from Gateway about 9:00 AM, last about 9:45 PM |
| Fares | From about AED 5 for a short hop; about AED 10 one way and AED 15 return for the full ride |
| Tickets | Online or at the station |
From reports in July; check the operator's website for the current timetable and fares.
At 15 minutes between trains, a missed one costs a quarter of an hour, and the last train from Gateway at about 9:45 PM means an Atlantis dinner has to finish on time or you take a taxi back. The Palm Jumeirah area guide has the rest of the island.
From the Marina to Atlantis, step by step
This is the all-public-transport route, and it works best on a cool morning or evening, because the walk between the tram and the monorail is outdoors.
- Reach the Marina: the Red Line to DMCC or Sobha Realty, or the tram from JBR if you are already there.
- Take the tram to the Palm Jumeirah stop, a few stops towards Al Sufouh; the platform screens show the next stops.
- Walk to Gateway. The interchange is out of the station, so allow about 10 minutes at your own pace.
- Buy the monorail ticket online or at the station and ride to Atlantis Aquaventure, about 9 minutes.
- Come back before the last train, and keep a taxi in mind for after dark.
In fares that is roughly AED 13-18 from the Marina against AED 35-50 in a taxi, but plan on about an hour door to door against 20-30 minutes. If you have luggage or children in the heat, the taxi earns its price. The step-by-step versions are in Marina to Palm Jumeirah and Downtown to Palm Jumeirah.
Who should use them, and who should skip
Use the tram if you are staying in or near the Marina and JBR: it is cheap, cool and frequent, and it saves parking and taxi fares for AED 3. Use the monorail for a day at Atlantis or Aquaventure, or for The View at The Palm, if you are happy to walk 10 minutes between the tram and Gateway.
Skip them if you are staying on a frond, because the monorail will not reach your hotel and the taxi from the stop is the same as the taxi from the Marina. Skip the walk to Gateway in the midday heat of May to September, and with small children and pushchairs go by taxi, because the outdoor walk and the transfers add up. The Dubai Marina versus Palm Jumeirah guide helps if you are still choosing where to stay.
Seeing the Palm and the Marina from the water
The monorail shows you the trunk, and the tram shows you the coast. The best view of both is from a boat. Our 1-hour shared yacht tour from $32 per person leaves the marina pier behind Al Majara Tower hourly, with check-in 20 minutes before, and sails through the Marina canal past JBR and Bluewaters to a photo stop in front of Ain Dubai. Full prepayment secures the seat, and the yacht leaves strictly on time.
For the Palm itself, the 90-minute speedboat tour, from $45, goes round the crescent to Atlantis The Palm and Atlantis The Royal with live commentary and a photo stop at the Burj Al Arab; there are up to nine departures a day between 9 AM and 5 PM. The 21+ yacht party, $99, boards at 8:30 PM and returns around 1:00 AM, when the tram and Metro are closing, so plan a taxi home. How to reach the pier is in the yacht pier guide, and the area is covered in the Dubai Marina guide.
FAQ
How much is the Dubai Tram?
About AED 3 for most rides with a Nol card, using the same zone fares as the Metro. A Silver Nol card is about AED 25 with AED 19 of credit. Trams run from about 6 AM to 1 AM, with a later start on Sundays; check the S'hail app for the day's times.
How much is the Palm Monorail?
Reports from July put it at from about AED 5 for a short hop, and about AED 10 one way and AED 15 return for the full Gateway to Atlantis ride. Sources differ, so check the operator's website for the current fare before you go.
Does the Palm Monorail go to the hotels on the fronds?
No. It stays on the trunk between Gateway and Atlantis Aquaventure, with stops at Al Ittihad Park and Palm Jumeirah Mall. For hotels and beach clubs on the fronds, take a taxi from the nearest stop.
How do I get from the Metro to the Palm Monorail?
Take the Red Line to DMCC or Sobha Realty, the tram to the Palm Jumeirah stop, then walk to the monorail's Gateway station. The interchange is out of the station, so allow about 10 minutes for the walk.
What time does the Palm Monorail run?
About 9 AM to 10 PM, with the first train from Gateway at about 9:00 AM and the last at about 9:45 PM, every 15 minutes. The ride from Gateway to Atlantis takes about 9 minutes. Check the operator's website for the current timetable.
Can I use my Nol card on the Palm Monorail?
The reports we saw describe tickets sold online and at the stations and do not mention Nol, so ask at the ticket counter. The Dubai Tram does take Nol, and so do the Metro and buses.
Is the Dubai Tram worth taking?
Yes for JBR, the Marina and the Metro connections: it costs about AED 3, it is air-conditioned and it saves a taxi. It is less useful for the Palm's fronds or for anywhere outside the coast strip, where a taxi is simpler.
Recommended Dubai tours for this guide
Dubai Marina Shared Yacht Tour
It is the most stylish way to see the skyline without paying for a private charter: a premium yacht with spacious decks and 5-star hospitality, a red carpet at the pier and the crew helping with photos against JBR and Ain Dubai. Full pre-payment secures your slot — the hourly departures sell out — and the yacht leaves strictly on time.
- Duration
- 1 hour
- Area
- Dubai Marina
- Format
- Shared 1-hour sightseeing cruise
- Best for
- families, couples and anyone who wants the Marina skyline from the water without a private charter
From $32 per person Full prepayment
View tour
Dubai Marina Speedboat Tour
It is Dubai's postcard landmarks seen from the sea in one loop: an open speedboat shared with up to 22 guests, a 360-degree view from every seat, stops for photos and live commentary in English from the guide on board. There are up to nine departures a day between 9 AM and 5 PM, and from October to mid-March the sun sets during the 5 PM ride.
- Duration
- 90 minutes
- Area
- Dubai Marina
- Format
- Shared speedboat
- Best for
- couples, friends and families with children aged 5+ who want Dubai's big landmarks from the sea in one loop
From $45 per person Full prepayment
View tour
Dubai Marina Yacht Party
It is a floating nightclub rather than a boat trip: an international crowd of 25-45 guests, a live DJ playing house, R&B and chart hits, a live BBQ from the grill and the city lights of the Palm and Burj Al Arab in the background. No assigned seats — you move between the decks — and the whole night is included in one ticket.
- Duration
- 4 hours (9 PM-1 AM)
- Area
- Dubai Marina
- Format
- Shared 21+ party cruise
- Best for
- solo travellers, couples and groups aged 21+ who want a night out on the water
$99 per person Full prepayment
View tour📚 Keep reading
Photos: A Palm Monorail train crossing the elevated viaduct on the Palm trunk, with the Burj Al Arab behind it and the beach and sea in front — trolvag, CC BY-SA 3.0, JBR Beach and The Walk — Sergei Gussev, CC BY 2.0, Bluewaters and the Ain Dubai view — Paasikivi, CC BY-SA 4.0, Palm Jumeirah Mall and The View — Saaremees (Andres Larin), CC BY-SA 4.0, Atlantis and Aquaventure — Fabio Achilli from Milano, Italy, CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons).