Life Pharmacy (UAE Exchange)

Life Pharmacy, still widely known by its former name UAE Exchange, is the western terminus of the main Red Line. This is where the original line runs out, at the edge of the Jebel Ali district near the vast free zone and port that anchor this part of the city. As a terminus it is built for turnaround and transfer, with feeder buses and park-and-ride commuters feeding into the metro at the start of the day and streaming back out in the evening.

For most riders this is a functional gateway rather than a place to linger. The surrounding Jebel Ali Free Zone is one of the largest port and industrial areas in the world, so a big share of the station's passengers are workers heading to and from the businesses inside it. If you are travelling towards Expo City instead, remember the Route 2020 branch splits away earlier at National Paints.

Station Overview

Life Pharmacy (UAE Exchange) opened in 2011 on the Dubai Metro Red Line and sits in Zone 1 of the NOL fare system. It is an elevated station on a viaduct and serves as the western terminus of the main Red Line, with the network's fully automated, driverless trains.

Lines and Connectivity

Life Pharmacy is the end of the main Red Line. Trains from here run back through Danube, Ibn Battuta and the Marina towards Downtown and the Centrepoint terminus in the east. For the Route 2020 branch to Al Furjan and Expo City, change at National Paints, and for the Green Line, change at BurJuman or Union.

Station Layout and Structure

As a terminus, Life Pharmacy is an elevated station laid out to handle turning trains and feeder-bus transfers, with lifts, escalators and stairs from the concourse. Facilities include toilets, ATMs, NOL top-up machines and a staffed service point. Gold Class carriages are at the front of each train and a women and children carriage runs in the middle.

Accessibility

Life Pharmacy has full step-free access, with lifts between street level, the concourse and the platform. Tactile paving, audio announcements and platform screen doors are in place throughout, in line with the network's standards.

Travel Tips

• This is the western end of the main Red Line, so all trains from here head back towards the city.
• For Expo City and the Route 2020 branch, change at National Paints rather than staying on the main line.
• Parts of the Jebel Ali Free Zone are restricted, so check whether you need a visitor permit before travelling for work.
• For the Green Line, change at BurJuman or Union.
• A NOL card costs AED 25 including AED 19 of credit and works across metro, tram, bus and marine transport.
• The metro runs Saturday to Wednesday 05:00-00:00, Thursday 05:00-01:00 and Friday 08:00-01:00.

Nearby Attractions

Jebel Ali Free Zone - around the station, one of the largest port and industrial free zones in the world.

Ibn Battuta Mall - a few stops back towards the city, a themed mall of six country courts.

Expo City Dubai - reached by changing to the Route 2020 branch at National Paints.

Timings and Best Time to Travel

Trains at Life Pharmacy run Saturday to Wednesday 05:00-00:00, Thursday 05:00-01:00 and Friday 08:00-01:00. As a terminus serving the free zone, it is busiest around the working shifts and the standard weekday commuter peaks of 07:30-09:30 and 17:00-19:30. The journey to Downtown takes roughly 45 minutes to an hour, so plan accordingly.