Dubai Metro to start at 3am on Sunday as Sheikh Zayed Road closes for Dubai Ride 2025

In preparation for the popular Dubai Ride 2025 on Sunday, November 2, Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority ( RTA ) has extended Dubai Metro operating hours, with trains starting as early as 3:00am to make it easier for cyclists and spectators to reach the event.

Metro timings for Dubai Ride 2025
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has rolled out major transport support for Dubai Ride 2025, the city’s largest community cycling event and a flagship component of the Dubai Fitness Challenge . To accommodate the thousands of participants expected—surpassing last year's 37,130 cyclists—the Dubai Metro operating hours are being drastically extended. On Sunday, November 2, 2025, the Metro service will begin its journey early at 3:00 am and will continue running all the way until 12:00 midnight. This extension ensures that participants and spectators can travel smoothly to and from the event location on Sheikh Zayed Road

Sheikh Zayed road shutdown
To guarantee the safety of all cyclists, the RTA has implemented temporary road closures that will affect several major routes in the heart of Dubai. These closures will be in effect for seven hours, running from 3:00 am until 10:00 am.

Key arteries impacted by the closure include:

• Sheikh Zayed Road: The section between the Trade Centre Roundabout and Al Hadiqa Bridge.
  
• Lower Financial Centre Street: The stretch connecting Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Khail Road.
  
• Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard: The entire one-way section of this popular street.

The RTA strongly advises motorists to plan their journeys in advance to avoid significant delays. The following alternative routes are recommended for drivers needing to navigate the area: Upper Financial Centre Street, Zabeel Palace Road, Al Wasl Road, Al Khail Road, and Al Asayel Road. Detailed diversion maps are available on RTA's official channels.

New toll fees during Dubai Ride rush hour
In addition to the road closures, the Salik toll system will feature a variable pricing strategy for the day to help manage traffic flow on parallel routes. Motorists passing through Salik gates on Sunday will notice temporary changes to the toll fees during the morning rush hours:

• Dh6 Charge (Increased): From 6:00 am to 10:00 am, the Salik toll will be Dh6, an increase from the typical Sunday charge of Dh4.
  
• Dh4 Charge (Standard): The fee reverts to the standard Dh4 rate from 10:00 am until 1:00 am the following morning.
  
• Charges Waived: The toll will be waived (no fees) from 1:00 am to 6:00 am on Monday morning.

These temporary adjustments are designed to incentivize drivers to use alternative routes or adjust their travel times, supporting the safe execution of the Dubai Ride while maintaining traffic movement across the city.