InsuranceMarket.ae is one of those Dubai stations whose sponsor name belies the ordinary, lived-in district it serves. This is the heart of Al Barsha 1, a busy residential pocket of mid-rise apartments, mid-range hotels and neighbourhood restaurants packed between Sheikh Zayed Road and the villa streets. It rarely makes a tourist itinerary on its own, yet plenty of visitors end up passing through it because so many of the area's affordable hotels sit within walking distance of the platform.
The station works as a quieter alternative to its famous neighbour one stop along. When Mall of the Emirates is heaving at the weekend, regulars know they can walk the short distance from InsuranceMarket.ae instead and skip the crush at the gates. Around the exits you will find the everyday texture of Al Barsha, small supermarkets, cafes and the constant flow of hotel guests heading out to explore the rest of the city.
InsuranceMarket.ae Metro Station opened in 2010 on the Dubai Metro Red Line and sits in Zone 2 of the NOL fare system. The trains here are fully automated and driverless, and the station is elevated, standing above the road on a viaduct.
InsuranceMarket.ae is a Red Line station. To the north-east the line runs towards Downtown, Deira and the Centrepoint terminus, and to the south-west it continues past Mall of the Emirates towards the Marina and the Route 2020 branch. For the Green Line and its Deira and Bur Dubai stops, change at BurJuman or Union.
This is an elevated station with lifts, escalators and stairs linking the concourse to the platform above. Toilets, ATMs, NOL top-up machines and a staffed service point are all on the concourse. Gold Class carriages ride at the front of each train, and a women and children carriage sits in the middle, marked along the platform.
InsuranceMarket.ae has full step-free access, with lifts between street level, the concourse and the platform. Tactile paving, audio announcements and platform screen doors are fitted throughout, so the station is easy to use for wheelchair users and travellers arriving from nearby hotels with luggage.
Al Barsha 1 district - around the station, a dense residential quarter of apartments, hotels, supermarkets and casual restaurants.
Mall of the Emirates - one stop along the Red Line or a short walk, home to Ski Dubai and the designer shopping floors.
Al Barsha Pond Park - a short ride away, a landscaped park with a walking track that comes alive in the cooler evenings.
Trains at InsuranceMarket.ae run Saturday to Wednesday 05:00-00:00, Thursday 05:00-01:00 and Friday 08:00-01:00. Weekday peaks fall around 07:30-09:30 and 17:00-19:30 as residents commute. It is moderately busy through the day thanks to the hotel traffic, with the calmest stretch in the early afternoon.
If you are heading to Al Barsha 1 district, InsuranceMarket.ae is your closest metro stop on the Red Line. It also gives easy access to Mall of the Emirates and Al Barsha Pond Park. Use the fare calculator to plan your journey cost before you travel.
It sits in Al Barsha 1, surrounded by mid-range hotels, supermarkets and restaurants, with Mall of the Emirates one stop away.
Yes, especially if you are staying in an Al Barsha hotel, as many sit within walking distance of the exits.
It is on the Red Line only. For the Green Line towards Deira and Bur Dubai, change at BurJuman or Union.
It is an elevated station, raised above the road on a viaduct.
It is in Zone 2 of the Dubai Metro NOL fare system.
Take the Red Line one stop, or walk the short distance to avoid the weekend crowds at the mall's own station.