Colin and I have taken the metro three times since it opened on Friday! We've been to the Dubai Mall once (which is another story entirely) and to Ibn Battuta twice. I was finally able to capture the trip with my iPhone camera today. So, here's the JLT station which is across Sheikh Zayed Rd from our apartment building.
To ride the metro, you need a nol card, which means "fare" in Arabic. We have a Gold card. The other options are Silver, Blue, or Red. Basically, the Gold card means that we have a special car in the train, and we ride "first class," if you will. It's really nothing special except there is less body odor and more room for Colin's stroller.
Before you ride, you should know that they will fine you 100 dhs ($27) for eating or drinking on the train. I saw them fine a lady for chewing gum the other day. There was lots of drama.
So, from our side of the street, you enter the metro station, go up the elevator, and across the bridge. There are 2 moving sidewalks which is pretty nice.
Here's the view out the (dirty) bridge window of Sheikh Zayed Road. 
And there's our apartment. It's about 2 buildings and one vacant lot away from the station.
This sign makes me smile. It's an advertisement to advertise at the metro station. Whoosh!
When you ride the Red Line train, you will either go towards Jebel Ali (SW or away from Dubai) or Rashidiya (NE or into Dubai). If you're interested in the metro map, check it out here: http://dubaimetro.eu/dubai-metro-map. Colin and I ride the elevators instead of the escalators because of the stoller.
Colin loves the glass elevators!
There hasn't been anyone at the Ticket Office yet. You can get your card at an automated station, at the Information Desk, or even at places like Geant.
These are the gates to the train.
You just tap your card and go. It even tells you the balance on your card. When you arrive, you go through the same gates and tap your card again since fares are based on how far you ride.
Here's the platform where you wait for the train.
And this is the Gold Card train. Nothing special except for leather seats, a fancy mirror separating you from the rest of the passengers, and they advertise a "360 degree view" since it's the last car.
I'd call that 180 degrees, but who's counting?
Colin's stroller fits in the handicapped section so we don't have to worry about people shuffling around us. He loves to ride on the train.
I snapped a quick picture of another car on our way out. Pretty similar, but usually way more crowded. We were at the end of the line, so everyone had exited the train.
When you get off the train at the Ibn Battuta Station, you walk through 2 bus lanes, 1 taxi lane, then you walk to the mall. I guess it's like parking in the back of the parking lot at the Mall of Georgia.
Here's the Ibn Battuta sign. I love that store, Max. It's actually really similar to TJ Maxx at home.
When you get closer to the mall, you get some shade from the palm trees and the breeze is cooler, thanks to the fountains.
This is looking back at the metro station from the front door of the mall. Doesn't seem so far away from this angle!
Ibn Battuta features a hot air balloon ride called SkyDubai, not to be confused with Ski Dubai at Mall of the Emirates.
Here's the balloon outside. We haven't ridden it yet.
Howard, your storage world was a huge disappointment for me. I was hoping for a Container Store-like atmosphere. Oh, well.
Colin and I shared a scoop of vanilla ice cream at Baskin Robbins.
Then we went to Geant for a few odds and ends. See, Bink, they do have Halloween in the UAE!
Not real sure about the trick or treating thing, but they're all about scary costumes here.
To ride the metro, you need a nol card, which means "fare" in Arabic. We have a Gold card. The other options are Silver, Blue, or Red. Basically, the Gold card means that we have a special car in the train, and we ride "first class," if you will. It's really nothing special except there is less body odor and more room for Colin's stroller.
Before you ride, you should know that they will fine you 100 dhs ($27) for eating or drinking on the train. I saw them fine a lady for chewing gum the other day. There was lots of drama.
So, from our side of the street, you enter the metro station, go up the elevator, and across the bridge. There are 2 moving sidewalks which is pretty nice.
Here's the view out the (dirty) bridge window of Sheikh Zayed Road. And there's our apartment. It's about 2 buildings and one vacant lot away from the station. This sign makes me smile. It's an advertisement to advertise at the metro station. Whoosh!
When you ride the Red Line train, you will either go towards Jebel Ali (SW or away from Dubai) or Rashidiya (NE or into Dubai). If you're interested in the metro map, check it out here: http://dubaimetro.eu/dubai-metro-map. Colin and I ride the elevators instead of the escalators because of the stoller.
Colin loves the glass elevators!There hasn't been anyone at the Ticket Office yet. You can get your card at an automated station, at the Information Desk, or even at places like Geant.
These are the gates to the train.
You just tap your card and go. It even tells you the balance on your card. When you arrive, you go through the same gates and tap your card again since fares are based on how far you ride.
Here's the platform where you wait for the train.
And this is the Gold Card train. Nothing special except for leather seats, a fancy mirror separating you from the rest of the passengers, and they advertise a "360 degree view" since it's the last car.
I'd call that 180 degrees, but who's counting?
Colin's stroller fits in the handicapped section so we don't have to worry about people shuffling around us. He loves to ride on the train.
I snapped a quick picture of another car on our way out. Pretty similar, but usually way more crowded. We were at the end of the line, so everyone had exited the train.
When you get off the train at the Ibn Battuta Station, you walk through 2 bus lanes, 1 taxi lane, then you walk to the mall. I guess it's like parking in the back of the parking lot at the Mall of Georgia.
Here's the Ibn Battuta sign. I love that store, Max. It's actually really similar to TJ Maxx at home.
When you get closer to the mall, you get some shade from the palm trees and the breeze is cooler, thanks to the fountains.
This is looking back at the metro station from the front door of the mall. Doesn't seem so far away from this angle!Ibn Battuta features a hot air balloon ride called SkyDubai, not to be confused with Ski Dubai at Mall of the Emirates.Here's the balloon outside. We haven't ridden it yet.
Howard, your storage world was a huge disappointment for me. I was hoping for a Container Store-like atmosphere. Oh, well.
Colin and I shared a scoop of vanilla ice cream at Baskin Robbins.
Then we went to Geant for a few odds and ends. See, Bink, they do have Halloween in the UAE!
Not real sure about the trick or treating thing, but they're all about scary costumes here.
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