Al Fardan Exchange

Al Fardan Exchange occupies the busy stretch of Sheikh Zayed Road where the media and marina districts of New Dubai meet. On one side of the highway the offices of Media City and Internet City tail off, while on the other the towers of Jumeirah Lakes Towers and the edge of Dubai Marina rise up. That in-between position makes it a genuine crossroads station, drawing office workers, apartment dwellers and the occasional visitor working out the quickest way down to the water.

Its everyday character is shaped by the dense residential clusters within reach of the exits. Thousands of people live in the surrounding towers, and for many the station is the first and last leg of the daily commute into the city. It is not a landmark stop, but it is a useful one, threading together the workplaces of the media zone with the apartments and waterfront of the marina district.

Station Overview

Al Fardan Exchange Metro Station opened in 2010 on the Dubai Metro Red Line and sits in Zone 2 of the NOL fare system. The trains that serve it are fully automated and driverless, and the station is elevated, carried above Sheikh Zayed Road on a viaduct.

Lines and Connectivity

Al Fardan Exchange is a Red Line station. North-east the line runs towards Downtown, Deira and the Centrepoint terminus, and south-west it continues towards Ibn Battuta and the Route 2020 branch. There is no Green Line here, so change at BurJuman or Union for Deira and Bur Dubai.

Station Layout and Structure

The station is elevated, with lifts, escalators and stairs joining the concourse to the platform above and pedestrian bridges reaching across towards the residential clusters. Toilets, ATMs, NOL top-up machines and a staffed service point sit on the concourse. Gold Class carriages ride at the front of each train and a women and children carriage runs in the middle.

Accessibility

Al Fardan Exchange has full step-free access, with lifts linking street level, the concourse and the platform. Tactile paving, audio announcements and platform screen doors are all fitted, and the covered footbridges keep the crossings towards the towers level and shaded.

Travel Tips

• Use this station to reach the JLT towers and the northern edge of Dubai Marina on foot across the bridges.
• For Media City on the far side of the highway, feeder buses save you a long walk.
• A NOL card costs AED 25 including AED 19 of credit and works on metro, bus, tram and marine transport.
• For the Green Line towards Deira, change at BurJuman or Union.
• Trains run Saturday to Wednesday 05:00-00:00, Thursday 05:00-01:00 and Friday 08:00-01:00.

Nearby Attractions

Jumeirah Lakes Towers - across the bridges from the station, a cluster of residential and office towers set around landscaped lakes with lakeside cafes.

Dubai Marina - a short ride or walk beyond JLT, the waterfront district of promenades, yachts and towers.

Dubai Media City - on the far side of Sheikh Zayed Road, the hub for broadcasters and agencies, reached by feeder bus.

Timings and Best Time to Travel

Trains at Al Fardan Exchange run Saturday to Wednesday 05:00-00:00, Thursday 05:00-01:00 and Friday 08:00-01:00. Weekday rush hours around 07:30-09:30 and 17:00-19:30 bring the office and apartment crowds together, so those are the busiest windows. Mid-morning and early afternoon are the calmest times to travel.